Persian Leap Day · Ruz-e Kabiseh

Culture of origin: Iranian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Iran

Esfand, the last month of the Persian (solar) calendar, has 29 days in common years and 30 in leap years. The calendar has no fixed leap rule: a year gets a 366th day only when one is needed to keep Nowruz on the day of the March equinox, reckoned at Tehran's noon. In the Fasli (Bastani) Zoroastrian calendar the leap day is Avardad-sal-Gah, added after the five Gatha days and seen as a repeat of the fifth, Vahishtoisht.