Xidir Nebî (Feast of Khidir and Elias) · Îda Xidir Ilyas

Culture of origin: Yezidi · Cultural

Holiday sources: Yezidism

Yezidis keep the feast of the two saints Xidir and Ilyas on the first Thursday of February in the Julian calendar, the Thursday from 14 to 20 February in the Gregorian; by another account it is kept a day later, as Xidir Nebî. It follows three days of fasting, and is celebrated with special foods, recitations and dancing together. Seven kinds of grain are toasted and ground into pêxun, given to the young in the hope that their wishes come true, and no animal is slaughtered in the season. The feast is especially loved by Yezidis from Armenia and Georgia.