Sepandārmazgān (سپندارمذگان) or Espandegān (اسپندگان), is an ancient day Iranian women with Zoroastrian roots dating back to the First Empire Persian, the Achaemenid Empire. This day is dedicated to Spənta Ārmaiti (Avestan for "Holy Devotion"), the Amesha Spenta to whom the domain of the "earth" is entrusted. The date of the festival observed in the Sassanid era was the 5th day of the month Spandarmad.
Sepandārmazgān, a festival for women
The deity Spandarmad protected the Earth and the "good, chaste and beneficent wife who loves her husband." The festival was formerly dedicated to women, and men gave them "liberal gifts," and the custom was still flourishing in some neighborhoods of Fahla.
Descriptions of this festival are given in medieval historiographical sources such as Gardizi, Biruni and Abu al-Hasan al-Mas'udi.
According to Biruni, it was a day when women rested and men were expected to bring them gifts. In the section on the Persian calendar, Biruni writes in The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries that:
On the 5th day or Isfahdmah-Roz (Isfand day), there is a festival due to the identity of the names of the month and the day. Isfandarmah is responsible for the care of the land and that of the good, chaste and benevolent woman who loves her husband. In the past, it was a special festival of women, when men gave them generous gifts. This custom is still flourishing in Isfahan, Ray and other districts of Fahla. In Persian, it is called Mardgiran.
Furthermore, Biruni notes that on this day, commoners ate raisins and pomegranate seeds. According to Gardizi, this holiday was special for women, and they also called this day mard-giran (possession of men).
Social networks
Today, Zoroastrians celebrate Sepandārmazgān. The deity Spandarmad protected the Earth and the “good, chaste and beneficent wife who loves her husband”. The festival was once dedicated to women, and men gave them gifts to please them. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #February 24 #Sepandārmazgān #zoroastre #iran
Picture
English 
Français