Feast of Sheikh Shems · Îda Şêşims

Culture of origin: Yezidi · Cultural

Holiday sources: Yezidism

The first of the three December fast weeks is for Sheikh Shems, whom Yezidis revere as the divinity of the sun, the divine light of God. The fast is voluntary: Tuesday to Thursday, beginning on a Tuesday between 14 and 20 November in the Julian calendar, eating before sunrise and after sunset, and it is broken on the Friday with a feast for Sheikh Shems, two weeks before the Feast of Ezid.