Hafez Day · Ruz-e Hafez

/hɒː.ˈfez/

Culture of origin: Iranian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Iran

Hafez of Shiraz (c. 1325–1390) is the most popular poet in Iran: his Divan of ghazals is found in almost every home, his lines are used as proverbs, and people consult it for an augury, the fal-e Hafez. The day was proposed by Kourosh Kamali Sarvestani, head of the Saadi Studies Center, who chose Mehr because the word mehr recurs so often in Hafez's poems. The first ceremony was held at the Hafezieh, his tomb in Shiraz, on 20 Mehr 1376 SH, and the day entered Iran's calendar in 1378 SH.