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Sizdah Bedar: Iran's Nature Day
Sizdah Bedar is the final day of Nowruz — the moment Iranians close out two weeks of celebration by leaving their homes and spending the entire day outdoors. It falls exactly 13 days after Nowruz, every single year.
The name breaks down simply: Sizdah means "thirteen," and Bedar roughly translates to "to get rid of" or "toward the outdoors." Together, it's usually rendered as "getting rid of the thirteen" — in older Persian belief, the number 13 carried a whiff of bad luck, and spending the day outside was a way of symbolically leaving that behind. It's also officially known as Ruz-e Tabiat, or Nature Day.
Releasing the Sabzeh
The sprouted greens from the Haft-Sin table are carried outside and released into a river or stream — a symbolic release of any sickness or bad luck absorbed over the holiday.
Gereh Zadan (Knotting the Grass)
Young, unmarried people tie blades of grass together while making a wish — traditionally for a future partner, though the custom extends to wishes of any kind.
Sekanjabin and Lettuce
Crisp lettuce dipped in Sekanjabin, a sweet-and-sour honey-vinegar syrup, is a distinctly Sizdah Bedar snack — light, refreshing, and built for a day spent outside.
Dorugh-e Sizdah (Lie of the Thirteenth)
Iran's answer to April Fools' — friendly pranks played on Sizdah Bedar, a tradition said to date back thousands of years.
Every park fills with the smell of charcoal grills. Ash Reshteh — a thick noodle soup loaded with herbs, beans, and whey — is the picnic staple, alongside grilled Joojeh Kabab. For the full spread of what shows up on a Nowruz-season table, see our guide to Nowruz food traditions.
| Official name | Nature Day (Ruz-e Tabiat) |
| When | 13 days after Nowruz — usually April 1st or 2nd |
| Primary activity | Outdoor picnics, games, releasing the Sabzeh |
| Significance | Purification and the close of the Nowruz season |
Learn the Language Behind the Traditions
Understanding why Iranians tie grass, release greens into rivers, and eat lettuce with syrup is one thing — reading and speaking about it in Farsi is another. Danaa School teaches both together.
When is Sizdah Bedar?
Sizdah Bedar always falls exactly 13 days after Nowruz, which lands it on either April 1st or April 2nd on the Gregorian calendar most years, depending on when the spring equinox falls.
When is the next Sizdah Bedar?
The next Sizdah Bedar falls on Friday, April 2, 2027.
What does "Sizdah Bedar" mean?
"Sizdah" means thirteen and "Bedar" roughly means "to get rid of" or "toward the outdoors." Together it's often translated as "getting rid of the thirteen" — spending the 13th day outside to ward off the bad luck traditionally associated with the number.
Why do Iranians throw away the Sabzeh on this day?
The sprouted greens (Sabzeh) that sat on the Haft-Sin table during Nowruz are believed to have absorbed sickness and bad luck over the two weeks of celebration. Releasing them into flowing water on Sizdah Bedar symbolically returns that negativity to nature.
What food is traditionally eaten on Sizdah Bedar?
Ash Reshteh, a thick herb and noodle soup, is a picnic staple, alongside grilled Joojeh Kabab. Fresh lettuce dipped in Sekanjabin — a honey and vinegar syrup — is a lighter, distinctly Sizdah Bedar snack.
Is Sizdah Bedar celebrated outside Iran?
Yes. Iranian diaspora communities widely celebrate it, though usually on the nearest weekend rather than the exact calendar day, since the 13th often falls on a workday abroad.
