Revolution of 1979 · Enqelab-e 1357

Culture of origin: Iranian · Historical

Holiday sources: Iran

Protests against the Shah began in October 1977 and grew into a broad uprising of communists, socialists and Islamists. On 19 August 1978 Islamic militants set fire to Cinema Rex in Abadan, killing around 400 people, a fire many then blamed on SAVAK. The Shah left Iran on 16 January 1979 and Khomeini returned on 1 February; after the monarchy fell, the March 1979 referendum made Iran an Islamic republic, with Khomeini as supreme leader by December.