Sepandarmazgan

/se.pæn.dɒːr.mæz.ˈɡɒːn/

Culture of origin: Iranian · Ancient festival

Holiday sources: Iran · Zoroastrianism

Sepandarmazgan is the name-day feast of Spenta Armaiti (Spandarmad), the Amesha Spenta of "holy devotion" and guardian of the earth, held where her day and her month meet. Al-Biruni wrote in the 11th century that it was a women's feast, on which men gave women generous presents; it was also called mard-giran. The festival was revived under the Pahlavis and is now a day of love for mothers and wives.