‌Exceptional features of the Iranian calendar. Iran - the heart of Asia

Plan
Introduction
1 History
1.1 Old Persian calendar
1.2 Zoroastrian calendar
1.3 Jalali calendar
1.4 Twelve-year animal cycle

2 Modern calendar
2.1 Reforms of the beginning of the 20th century.
2.1.1 In Iran
2.1.2 In Afghanistan

2.2 Month names
2.3 Seasons
2.4 Definition of leap years
2.5 Days of the week
2.6 Compliance with the Gregorian calendar
2.7 Some dates

References
Iranian calendar

Introduction

The Iranian calendar or Solar Hijri (Persian: تقویم هجری شمسی؛ سالنمای هجری خورشیدی‎) is an astronomical solar calendar that is used as the official calendar in Iran and Afghanistan. The calendar was developed with the participation of Omar Khayyam, and since then it has been updated several times. It dates from the Hegira (the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622, but is based on the solar (tropical) year, unlike the classical Islamic calendar, so its months always fall on the same seasons. The beginning of the year is the day vernal equinox (Navruz, spring holiday).

1. History

1.1. Old Persian calendar

The ancient Iranian calendar, like the ancient Indian calendar, supposedly consisted of six seasons, each of which approximately corresponded to two lunar months. The ancient Persians, having come into contact with Mesopotamian culture, synchronized their calendar with the Babylonian one. The year began at the vernal equinox and consisted of 12 lunar synodic months (29 or 30 days each), thus totaling about 354 days. To compensate for the difference with the tropical year, a thirteenth month was inserted every six years.

1.2. Zoroastrian calendar

Presumably in the 5th century. BC e. The Achaemenid administration introduced a new type of calendar - solar, arranged according to the Egyptian model with 12 months of 30 days, in no way related to the phases of the moon and named after the revered Zoroastrian Yazatas. As in the Egyptian calendar, epagomenas were added to 360 days - 5 additional days. To bring such a calendar into line with the tropical year of 365.2422 days, every 120 years (according to other sources 116 years) an accumulating 30 days were inserted in the form of an additional month. It was this calendar that became the prototype of the modern Iranian calendar, and the Zoroastrian names of the months have been preserved in it to this day.

1.3. Jalali calendar

The Muslim conquerors who crushed Sasanian Iran used the Islamic calendar bequeathed by the Koran, based on a year of 12 lunar months without adjustment to the solar year and counting years from the Hijra of Muhammad. This calendar was used as an official calendar throughout the Islamic world and retains its religious significance in Iran to this day. Meanwhile, its complete inconsistency with natural seasons and, consequently, agricultural cycles, very early forced Muslim rulers to use a semblance of the Sasanian Zoroastrian calendar (the so-called Kharaji) with intercalary 5 days every year and one month every 120 years to collect kharaj from the subject non-Muslim population.

In 1079, during the reign of the Seljuk Sultan Jalaluddin Melik Shah, an official solar calendar was adopted, developed by a group of Isfahan astronomers led by Omar Khaim. The main purpose of this calendar was to link Novruz (that is, the beginning of the year) as strictly as possible to the spring equinox, understood as the entry of the sun into the constellation Aries. Thus, 1 Farvardin (Novruz) of the 468 solar year of the Hijri, in which the calendar was adopted, corresponded to Friday, 9 of Ramadan of the 417 lunar year of the Hijri, and 19 Farvardin of the 448 year of Yazdegerd (March 15, 1079). To distinguish it from the Zoroastrian solar year, called qadīmī (“ancient”) or fārsī (“Persian”), the new calendar was called jalālī (Persian جلالی‎) or malekī (Persian ملکی‎) in honor of Melik Shah himself. Likewise, the new Novruz received the names Nowrūz-e malekī, Nowrūz-e solṭānī or Nowrūz-e Ḥamal (“Novruz of Aries”).

The number of days in the months of the Jalali calendar varied from the timing of the entry of the sun into a particular zodiac sign and could range from 29 to 32 days. Initially, innovative names for the months, as well as the days of each month, were proposed, modeled on the Zoroastrian calendar. However, they did not take root and the months began to be called, in general, by the name of the corresponding zodiac sign. In Farsi, these names are borrowings from Arabic.

Despite its fairly accurate correspondence with the natural seasons, the Jalali calendar required labor-intensive astronomical observations and calculations, and after the death of its patron Melik Shah in 1092, they virtually ceased. However, during its creation, a general formula for calculating leap years was developed, which added an additional 366th day of the year. In general terms, it consists of inserting 8 leap days into 33 years: a leap day is inserted once every four years for 6 cycles, and in the 7th it is inserted once every 5 years. Therefore, for state and economic needs, the Jalali calendar served for a long time in Iran and adjacent countries.

1.4. Twelve-year animal cycle

In the 13th century The Middle East was conquered by the Mongols, who brought the twelve-year cycle of years, called after animals, common in the zone of influence of Chinese culture. The Mongolian innovation did not take root immediately, and ultimately the animal cycle was incorporated into the existing system, where the religious lunar Islamic calendar and the solar Jalali calendar already coexisted, with significant changes. The solar year of Jalali, which completely coincided with the beginning of the lunar year, was excluded from the animal cycle.

2. Modern calendar

2.1. Reforms of the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1911, the Mejlis (parliament) of Qajar Iran officially approved a state calendar based on the Jalali calendar with the names of the months in honor of the zodiac constellations (more precisely, signs) and the naming of years according to the twelve-year animal cycle. It remained in use until the 1925 revolution.

After Shah Reza Pahlavi came to power on 11 Farvardin 1304 sol. X. (March 31, 1925) Iranian Parliament adopts new calendar - Solar Hijra(Persian: گاهشماری هجری خورشیدی یا هجری شمسی‎), in which the ancient Zoroastrian names of the months were restored. Not least of all, the adoption of these names was facilitated by the Zoroastrian candidate Keykhosrow Shahrukh, supported by a group of Iranian Muslim patriots. At the same time, the twelve-year animal cycle was officially prohibited, although it was still used in everyday life for a long time.

The new calendar is a simplified version of Jalali. The first six months consist of 31 days, the next five of 30 days, and the last of 29 days in ordinary years or 30 in leap years (Persian: کبیسه‎). The longer duration of the first half of the year corresponds to a longer period between the spring and autumn equinox. In general, the insertion of leap years in the calendar follows a 33-year cycle, sometimes replaced by 29 and 37 years.

On Esfand 24, 1354 AH/March 14, 1975, on the initiative of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, a new era was introduced instead of the Hijri era - shahanshahi(Persian شاهنشاهی‎) “royal” from the estimated year of Cyrus the Great’s accession to the throne (559 BC). March 21, 1976 became the first day of the year 2535 of the Shahankhahi era. This innovation caused rejection among Islamic clerics and was generally ignored by society. In 1978, the Shah was forced to restore the Hijri era.

Although the 1979 revolution took place under the banner of Islamization and the rejection of everything associated with the heritage of the Pahlavi dynasty, after its completion the Iranian calendar was not changed and the Zoroastrian names of the months are still preserved.

In Afghanistan

In 1301 AD/1922, following the example of Iran, the Iranian solar calendar with zodiac names of months was introduced in neighboring Afghanistan, where until then only the lunar hijri had been officially used. Moreover, in the Dari language, as in Iran, they are called by Arabic names, and in the Pashto language they were translated literally.

Initially, as in the Jalali calendar, the number of days of the months varied depending on the movement of the sun through the zodiac (from 29 to 32). Only in 1336/1957 was the Iranian system introduced with a constant number of days in months, but the names of the months themselves remained the same.

2.2. Month names

The Iranian year begins on the day of the vernal equinox, celebrated as Nowruz - the most significant national holiday in Iran and Afghanistan, also celebrated in many neighboring countries, where, however, other calendars are adopted.

2.3. Seasons

The year is traditionally divided into four seasons of three months each:

· Spring(Persian بهار‎, Pashto پسرلۍ): farvardin, ordibehesht, khordad

· Summer(Persian تابستان‎, Pashto دوبئ["dobai]): shooting range, mordad, shahrivar

· Autumn(Persian پایز‎, Pashto منئ["mənai]): mehr, aban, azar

· Winter(Persian زمستان‎, Pashto ژمئ["ʒəmai]): dey, bahman, esfand

2.4. Definition of Leap Years

Leap years are defined differently than in the Gregorian calendar: a leap year is a year whose numerical value is divided by 33 and the remainder is 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 22, 26 or 30; thus, there are 8 leap years in each 33-year period, and the average length of the year is 365.24242 days, giving an error of 1 day per 4500 years. The Iranian calendar is more accurate than the Gregorian calendar in this regard.

2.5. Days of the week

The week of the Iranian calendar begins on Saturday and ends on Friday - an official day off.

On the territory of Iran, which is sometimes also called Persia, one of the most ancient civilizations in the world once formed. This country has amazing nature, beautiful mountains, ancient cities, balneological, ski and beach resorts. Iranians are very hospitable people and always welcome tourists who respect their religion.

Iran is located in South-West Asia. Iran borders Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Armenia in the north and northeast, Iraq in the west, Turkey in the northwest, and Pakistan and Afghanistan in the east. In the north, the shores of Iran are washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea, and in the south of the country there is the Arabian Sea (Persian and Oman Gulfs), which is part of the Indian Ocean. The total area of ​​this country is 1,648,000 square meters. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 5,619 km.

In the west of Iran there is the Elborz mountain system, as well as the Caucasus Mountains. In general, most of Iran's territory is occupied by mountains. The highest peak in the country is Damavand Peak, whose height reaches 5,604 meters. However, in the east of Iran there are deserts (for example, Dasht-e Kavir), and in the north there are large plains.

The capital of Iran is Tehran, which is now home to more than 8.8 million people. Archaeologists claim that human settlement on the site of modern Tehran existed already 7 thousand years ago.

The official language in Iran is Persian, which belongs to the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family.

About 98% of Iran's population is Muslim (89% Shia Muslims and 9% Sunni Muslims).

According to the current Constitution of 2004, Iran is an Islamic republic. Its head is the President, elected by universal suffrage for a term of 4 years. The President, by decree, appoints members of the Council of Ministers and controls their activities.

However, in Iran, real power lies not with the President, but with the “Supreme Leader”, who is elected by an 86-member Council of Experts (elected by the people).

A special role in Iran belongs to the Council of Guardians of the Constitution (12 people). Members of this Council must check whether the laws adopted in Iran comply with the Constitution.

The right of legislative initiative in Iran has a unicameral parliament - the Majlis. It consists of 190 deputies elected by direct universal suffrage for 4 years.

The climate in Iran is changeable. In the north along the coast of the Caspian Sea, the climate is subtropical. In the northwest, winters are cold (there is often a lot of snow), spring and autumn are warm, and summers are dry and hot. As for the south of the country, winters there are warm and summers are hot. In July in the south of Iran the average air temperature is +38C. In general, the average annual air temperature in Iran is +16.7C. The average annual precipitation is 213 mm.

Average air temperature in Iran:

January - +3.5C
- February - +6C
- March - +11C
- April - +16C
- May - +28C
- June - +27С
- July - +30С
- August - +28.5C
- September - +25C
- October - +18C
- November - +10C
- December - +5.5C

In the north, Iran is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. In the south of the country there is the Arabian Sea (Persian and Oman Gulfs), which is part of the Indian Ocean. The length of the Caspian Sea coast in Iran is 740 kilometers, and the coastline along the Persian and Oman Gulfs stretches for 2,440 kilometers.

Iran includes several islands. The most famous of them is, perhaps, the island of Kish in the Strait of Hormuz, which is now a popular destination for beach holidays.

There are not many rivers in Iran, which determines its geographical location. Moreover, only one of them is navigable - the Karun, which flows in the north-west of the country.

In the north-west of Iran there is also the most famous Iranian lake - Urmia, the salty waters of which are similar in their chemical composition to the water of the Dead Sea. Thanks to its waters, Lake Urmia is a very popular balneological resort in Iran.

According to archaeological finds, people lived on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea (i.e. in the territory of modern Iran) already in 10,000 BC. Scientists believe that this region managed to avoid all the “delights” of the Ice Age.

Previously, Iran was called Persia, however, now this name is also still used.

The first mention of Iranians dates back to 844 BC. (in Assyrian texts). In the 6th century, Cyrus the Great founded the Persian Empire, which was destroyed in 330 BC. Alexander the Great.

In subsequent centuries, Persia was invaded by the Parthians, Arabs, Mongols, and Seljuk Turks. In the middle of the 7th century, after Persia was conquered by the Arabs, Islam began to spread among the Iranians, displacing their ancient religion, Zoroastrianism.

Since 1502, representatives of the Safavid dynasty have become Shahs of Iran. During this era, Shah Ismail I of Iran made the Shia branch of Islam the state religion.

In the 18th-19th centuries, Iran fell into the sphere of interests of Great Britain and Russia. In the early 1900s, rivalry over oil intensified between Britain and Russia, both of which were vying for influence in Iran.

In 1921, army officer Reza Khan established a military dictatorship in Iran, and in 1925 he assumed the title "Shah".

In 1979, a revolution took place in Iran, as a result of which the Shah was overthrown and Iran became an Islamic republic. The founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran is Ayatollah Khomeini.

Iran is a very conservative Muslim country. Perhaps this is why Iranians have preserved many of their customs and traditions. Most Iranian customs and holidays are religious in nature.

In March, Iranians celebrate Nowruz, which is dedicated to the beginning of the New Year (Iranians have their own calendar). Before the New Year, Iranians make sure to do a thorough cleaning of their homes and also buy sweets and dried fruits for themselves, their relatives and friends.

Iranian cuisine is very diverse. Each province of Iran has its own culinary traditions and very tasty dishes. The main food products are rice, meat (including chicken), fish, vegetables, nuts, and spices. However, Iranian cuisine has been significantly influenced by Greek, Arab, Turkish, and even Russian culinary traditions.

Ash-e Jow – thick soup made from barley beans, lentils and vegetables;
- Fesenjan – chicken with pomegranates in nut sauce;
- Kalam polo – pilaf with the aroma of cinnamon and saffron;
- Khoresht ghaimeh – stew with peas;
- Khoresht-e Aloo – stewed lamb with prunes;
- Kookoo – spiced omelette;
- Kufteh – spicy cutlets;
- Reshteh Polo – “green” pilaf (it is green because of the herbs added to it).

Alcoholic drinks are prohibited in Iran (Iranians smoke hookah instead of alcohol). But traditional Iranian soft drinks include yogurt, coffee and tea.

To get acquainted with the sights of Iran, you need to visit this country several times. Perhaps, in terms of the number (and their beauty) of attractions, Iran is second only to countries such as Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. The top ten best Iranian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Tomb of the Persian king Cyrus II in Pasargadae
2. Abad Garden Museum in Tehran
3. Golestan Palace in Tehran
4. Friday Mosque in Isfakan
5. Meybod Fortress
6. Imam Mosque in Isfakan
7. Tomb of the poet Hafez in Shiraz
8. Ancient Ziggurat Choga Zembil
9. Zoroastrian sanctuary in Yazd
10. Ruins of the Assassin fortress Alamut

The largest Iranian cities are Keredj, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, Ahvaz, and, of course, Tehran.

It would seem that there should be many beach resorts in Iran, because... the country has access to the Caspian and Arabian seas, however, this is not yet the case. This is influenced, in part, by the political situation in which Iran finds itself.

However, in recent years, beach resorts have begun to develop in Iran. Thus, on the island of Kish (Shahid Zakeri, Laft, Bahman), located 17 km from the coast of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, many high-class hotels have been built in recent years, and excellent conditions for diving have been created. You can swim and sunbathe on Kish Island in winter. By the way, on Kish Island men are prohibited from wearing ties, because... they "are part of the Western way of life."

There are many mineral springs in Iran (most of them are in the north-west of the country). The most famous Iranian balneological resort is Temriz. In the vicinity of Termiz there is Lake Urmia, the water of which is similar in composition to the water of the Dead Sea.

We have already said that there are a lot of mountains in Iran (especially in the west of the country). Therefore, it is not surprising that several ski resorts are now operating in Iran - Dizin, Toshal and Ab Ali. Skiing season is from November to April. By the way, the Ab Ali ski resort was built back in 1953.

Of course, the infrastructure of Iranian ski resorts is not very developed. But these resorts have mineral springs, which slightly compensate for the shortcomings of the infrastructure.

Tourists from Iran bring carpets, bags, scarves, blankets, towels, dishes, ceramics, baskets, jewelry, a variety of sweets, and hookahs as souvenirs.

Banks:
Mon-Fri: 07:30-16:00
Thursday: 07:30-12:00

The solar Hijri calendar is the only calendar in the world in which the New Year begins at a single point in time for all people, no matter where they are in the world. From this point of view, the Iranian calendar is exceptional and unique.
In all calendars of the world, the beginning of the New Year has a certain meaning, for example, in countries where the New Year is celebrated according to the Christian calendar, the New Year begins at midnight on December 31st on the first of January. Thus, countries located in the east of the globe are the first to celebrate the New Year, and then in order, that is, from east to west, countries alternately celebrate the New Year.

In other calendars of the world, there is no simultaneous entry into the New Year at a single specific point in time, everything happens according to certain concepts and provisions, that is, the beginning of the year in the calendars of many countries of the world does not depend directly on natural and astronomical phenomena. However, in the Iranian solar calendar, the moment of the New Year necessarily coincides with a natural phenomenon - the spring equinox, when the sun crosses the border of the southern and northern hemispheres, this transition of the sun from the southern to the northern hemisphere occurs at a certain point in time, calculated with an accuracy of a second. The advent of the New Year at the moment of the spring equinox not only eloquently symbolizes the connection between man and nature, flourishing and newness, but also the fact that the advent of the New Year always occurs at different times of the day, which is far from repetitive and monotonous, and which is also a manifestation of diversity and inspiration .

Solar Hijri calendar - the most accurate calendar in the world
The calendar used today in modern Iran is the most accurate calendar among other calendars used in the world. The solar calendar was first developed and compiled by astronomer Abdul Ghafarkhan based on the Zoroastrian horoscope. At one time, he determined that the year was 1264 according to the solar calendar (1885 after the birth of Christ), which coincided with the 1302 - 1303 lunar year. Since this year 1264, a solar calendar has spread in Iran, which is based on the movement of the sun and which begins with the great migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. Of course, the calendar he compiled is known as the solar Hijri calendar, or as the solar calendar, the main principles of such a calendar are as follows:
- The beginning of the solar calendar is the first day of the month of Farvardin of the solar year in the year of the Great Migration of the Islamic Prophet from Mecca to Medina, which is 119 days ahead of the first day of the month of Moharram in the first year of the Great Migration according to lunar reckoning. The beginning of the solar calendar coincides with Friday, March 19, 622 AD.
- The onset of the New Year according to the solar calendar occurs at the moment of the transition of the solar disk from the southern hemisphere to the northern, that is, at the moment of the spring equinox, such a day is called the first day of the month of Aries or Nouruz (that is, a new day), such a day coincides with the first day of spring.

- The solar year is an actual year, that is, it covers the period of time of the spring and autumn equinox and averages 365 days, 5 hours, 48 ​​minutes and 2.45 seconds. The exact length of the solar year depends on many astronomical factors.
- The duration of solar years for 50 years (from 1335 to 1385) varied between 365 days, 5 hours, 42 minutes and 365 days, 6 hours and 4 minutes. This difference in duration is explained by the length of the astronomical year, when the earth makes a full circle around the sun, which is 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds.
- A year according to the solar calendar consists of twelve months, each of which corresponds to a specific zodiac sign in the sky, through which the solar disk passes annually. 20 centuries earlier, astronomers divided the earth's full circle around the sun into 12 equal months.
At the very beginning, the solar calendar did not have official status in Iran; the old calendar was used for tax and customs activities. In the year 1328 according to the lunar calendar/1288 according to the solar calendar, Tehran's representative in the Majlis of the National Council, Mirza Abdulhossein Khan Sheibani Wahid-ul-Mulk, proposed that the dates of all transactions should be indicated on the basis of the solar calendar, rather than the lunar one. This proposal was accepted by the Majlis of the National Council of Iran of the second convocation, after which the solar calendar began to be used in government calculations as an official measure of time.
Recognition of the solar calendar
At the end of the 1303 solar calendar, a group of deputies of the Majlis of the National Council of Iran of the fifth convocation came up with a proposal to replace the names of Arabic months in the solar calendar with Persian ones and abandon the names of years based on the names of twelve common animals. After heated discussions at the 148th session of the Majlis of the Islamic Council of Iran, held on March 31, 1925, a law was passed on the transition to Persian months, starting with the year 1304 according to the solar calendar, which corresponds to the year 1925. The solar calendar has been adopted as the official calendar in Iran.
The solar calendar is still the official calendar in Iran today. Names of the months in solar calendar have Avestan roots.

Farvardin = driving force
Ordibihesht = truthfulness and purity
Khordad = perfection and flawlessness
Tyr = rain
Mordad = immortality
Shahrivar = chosen country
Mehr = covenant and agreement
Aban = water
Azar = fire
Dey = creator and creator
Bachman = positive thoughts
Esfand = humility and patience
From the point of view of astronomy and natural phenomena, the solar calendar is considered the best and most accurate method of calculating chronology in the world. The solar calendar has some of the following benefits:
- The duration of the solar year, Nowruz (beginning of the year) and leap years in the solar calendar are determined in strict accordance with astronomical calculations and calculations. The solar calendar is the only common calendar in the world that takes into account not only leap years every four years, but also leap years every five years. The presence of five-year leap years allows the solar calendar to constantly and more accurately correspond to the natural seasons.
- The number of days in the months of the solar calendar is determined on an astronomical and natural basis. In other words, the number of days1 in months completely coincides with the duration of the external uneven movement of the center of the solar disk across the sky, divided into zodiac signs.
- The beginning of the year according to the solar calendar coincides with the onset of spring and the re-blooming of nature.

Reforms of the beginning of the 20th century.

In Iran

In 1911, the Mejlis of Qajar Iran officially approved a state calendar based on the Jalali calendar with the names of the months in honor of the zodiac constellations and the naming of years according to the twelve-year animal cycle. It remained in use until the 1925 revolution.

After Shah Reza Pahlavi came to power on 11 Farvardin 1304 sol. X. The Iranian parliament adopts a new calendar, the Solar Hijri, in which the ancient Zoroastrian names of the months were restored. Not least of all, the adoption of these names was facilitated by the Zoroastrian candidate Keykhosrow Shahrukh, supported by a group of Iranian Muslim patriots. At the same time, the twelve-year animal cycle was officially prohibited, although it was still used in everyday life for a long time.

The new calendar is a simplified version of Jalali. The first six months consist of 31 days, the next five of 30 days, and the last of 29 days in normal years or 30 in leap years. The longer duration of the first half of the year corresponds to a longer period between the spring and autumn equinox. In general, the insertion of leap years in the calendar follows a 33-year cycle, sometimes replaced by 29 and 37 years.

On Esfand 24, 1354 AH/March 14, 1975, on the initiative of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, instead of the Hijri era, a new era was introduced - the Shahanshahi "royal" from the expected year of Cyrus the Great's accession to the throne. March 21, 1976 became the first day of the year 2535 of the Shahankhahi era. This innovation caused rejection among Islamic clerics and was generally ignored by society. In 1978, the Shah was forced to restore the Hijri era.

Although the 1979 revolution took place under the banner of Islamization and the rejection of everything associated with the heritage of the Pahlavi dynasty, after its completion the Iranian calendar was not changed and the Zoroastrian names of the months are still preserved.

In Afghanistan

In 1301 AD/1922, following the example of Iran, the Iranian solar calendar with zodiac names of months was introduced in neighboring Afghanistan, where until then only the lunar hijri had been officially used. Moreover, in the Dari language, as in Iran, they are called by Arabic names, and in the Pashto language they were translated literally.

Initially, as in the Jalali calendar, the number of days of the months varied depending on the movement of the sun through the zodiac. Only in 1336/1957 was the Iranian system introduced with a constant number of days in months, but the names of the months themselves remained the same.

Month names

The Iranian year begins on the vernal equinox, celebrated as Nowruz, the most significant national holiday in Iran and Afghanistan, also celebrated in many neighboring countries, where, however, other calendars are adopted.

Seasons

The year is traditionally divided into four seasons of three months each:

• Spring: Farvardin, Ordibehesht, Khordad
• Summer: shooting range, mordad, shakhrivar
• Autumn: mehr, aban, azar
• Winter: dey, bahman, esfand

Definition of Leap Years

Leap years are defined differently than in the Gregorian calendar: a leap year is a year whose numerical value is divided by 33 and the remainder is 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 22, 26 or 30; thus, there are 8 leap years in each 33-year period, and the average length of the year is 365.24242 days, giving an error of 1 day per 4500 years. The Iranian calendar is more accurate than the Gregorian calendar in this regard.

Days of the week

The Iranian calendar week starts on Saturday and ends on Friday, which is an official day off.

• Saturday Shambe;
• Sunday Yekshambe;
• Monday Doshambe;
• Tuesday Seshambe;
• Wednesday Chaharshambe;
• Thursday Panjshambe;
• Friday Joma or Adina

The names of the days from Sunday to Thursday are the addition of a sequential numeral to the name of Saturday: Sunday “one-Saturday”, Monday “two-Saturday”, etc. The name of Friday Jome comes from the Arabic word “meeting” meaning traditional Friday collective prayer of Muslims.

Compliance with the Gregorian calendar

Years in which Nowruz falls on March 20 of the Gregorian calendar are marked with an asterisk. In other years, Novruz March 21.

Some dates

• 12 Bahmana 1357 February 1, 1979: Khomeini's arrival in Iran;
• 12 farvardin 1358 April 1, 1979: Proclamation of the Islamic Republic in Iran;
• 12 Mordad 1384 August 3, 2005: Ahmadinejad takes office as president.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a state located in the very center of Western Asia. To put it in terms that citizens of the former Soviet Union can understand, Iran is located south of the underbelly of the Russian Federation. The country is washed in the north by the waters of the Caspian Sea and borders Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. To the east, Iran shares borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. States such as Türkiye and Iraq border Iran in the West. From the south, the country is washed by the warm waters of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. The country's area is 1 million 648 thousand km 2 - this is the 17th place in the world in terms of territory. This fairly vast territory is home to more than 70 million people, representing a wide variety of peoples and nationalities. Iran is a multinational state, however, more than 70% of the population belongs to peoples with Iranian roots. The Persians are the main, titular nation in the country. According to the population census conducted in 2010, Persians numbered 35 million people; more than 30 million of the country's citizens are Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and other Turkic-speaking peoples. There are many Tajiks and representatives of Afghan tribes living in the northeast of the country. Many names of provinces also come from the names of peoples. Iranian Azerbaijan and Balochistan, provinces of the country that are mainly inhabited by these peoples.

Language and religion of Iran

The official language in the country is Farsi, a clear language, Persian, which is today one of the most ancient languages ​​that has preserved its grammar and phonetics for thousands of years. In the provinces, the languages ​​of local peoples and tribes are used. In the north of the country, the population speaks Kurdish, Turkish, and Tajik. In large cities you can hear English and French, which are more used in business communication and everyday life.

Despite such a diversity of peoples inhabiting Iran, the main religion in the country is Shiism, one of the Islamic religious movements. Shiite Islam became the official religion of Iran back in 1501, under Shah Ismail I of the Safavid dynasty. More than 90% of the population consider themselves Shiites and only 10% of the population remain adherents of another Islamic movement - Sunnism. A very small part of the population professes ancient Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity. Even with all the radicalism that is characteristic of Shiism, Iran is considered one of the most tolerant countries in the world. Almost all religious denominations are represented in the Majlis, the Iranian parliament, and freedom of religion is enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Political structure of the country, climate and geographical features

For a long time, Iran remained a monarchical state, where all real power belonged to the Shah, who in one person was the secular and spiritual head of the country. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, power in the country came under the control of various institutions. Today, Iran remains the only state in the world with a theocratic political system, not counting the Vatican. Despite the fact that in reality power is divided into executive, legislative and judicial, all political, religious and economic life is controlled by the Supreme Leader, the religious leader - the Ayatollah. The Ayatollah, or in the Iranian context, Rahbar, is elected by the Council of Elders for life and all government agencies, the army and the police, are accountable to him.

The head of the executive branch of the country is the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. All decisions and decrees of the President are necessarily reviewed by the Supreme Leader and only after that are adopted as decrees and government decisions. The President of Iran is elected for a 4-year term by direct popular vote. All legislative power in Iran belongs to the Majlis, the Iranian parliament, which is responsible for drafting bills, ratifying international treaties and resolving conflict situations at home and abroad. The Majlis is elected from deputies who are nominated by representatives of provinces and large cities under the strict control of the Council of Guardians of the Constitution.

It is worth highlighting such a government body in Iran as the Council of Guardians of the Constitution. The main responsibility of this body is to monitor and verify bills and government decisions for compliance with Islamic law. All government decisions, regulations and laws must strictly comply with Sharia, the main Islamic law.

Climate of Iran, geographical features of the country

Unlike its neighboring countries, Iran experiences a variety of climates and conditions. Most of the country's territory is located in the tropical desert climate zone. The northern part of the country has a pronounced subtropical continental climate, formed mainly by the presence of large mountain ranges and the proximity to the vast deserts of Central Asia. On the coast of the Caspian Sea, the climate is slightly milder, although in winter the temperature at night often drops to zero.

In the mountainous regions of Iran, which occupy almost 60% of the country's territory, the climate directly depends on the altitude. In the mountains of Elburz and Iranian Azerbaijan, the climate is sharply continental, with cold winters and dry, cool summers. On the Iranian plateau, the climate is slightly milder; winters here are relatively warm, in contrast to the hot and dry summers. The main distinguishing feature of Iran's climate is the low amount of precipitation or its almost complete absence. In mountainous areas and on the coast, annual precipitation allows for a normal lifestyle. The central part of the country is deprived of precipitation, which naturally affects living conditions. The only area where a warm climate and high humidity are combined is the coast of the Indian Ocean and the shores of the Persian Gulf. Summers here are always hot and humid. In summer, the hot and dry breath of the Arabian Desert is felt on the coast of the Persian Gulf.

Nature of Iran, its features

Due to the heterogeneity of the landscape, the country's territory is distinguished by a variety of flora and fauna. The slopes of Elborz and almost all of Iranian Azerbaijan are covered with forests. The humid and moderately warm climate contributes to the rich flora and habitat of many rare animal species. To this day, in the mountains of Iran you can find outlandish snow leopards, leopards, wolves and bears. The coast of the Caspian Sea is covered with subtropical forests, in which even vines can often be found. The central parts of the country are mainly dotted with wild groves of pistachios, almonds and cherry plums, representing open forests. As for river valleys and the coast of the Persian Gulf, swamp vegetation and mangroves dominate here. The desert area in the northeast of the country is characterized by sparse vegetation, mainly represented by rare shrubs of barberry, honeysuckle and acacia. Roe deer and wild goats live in large numbers here. You can meet jackals and even hyenas. The bird life is represented by a large number of pheasants and partridges. On the Caspian coast there are huge nesting grounds of pelicans and pink flamingos.

Iran is a country with an ancient history

The history of Iran stretches back to ancient times. Few of today's contemporaries know that Iran is a direct descendant of Persia, the oldest ancient state, which at the peak of its glory was considered the hegemon of the ancient world. Ancient Persia, the great state of the Achaemenids and Sassanids, extended in the era of the kings Cyrus and Darius from the Mediterranean Sea to the spurs of the Himalayas. Iran, called Persia until 1935, has a rich and great history. Many generations of people grew up on myths in which Persia was not given the brightest, most positive pages. This also includes the Persian invasion of ancient Greece, the struggle of Greek cities with the hordes of Darius. The long struggle of Ancient Rome with the Sassanid Empire and, finally, medieval Persia, which for many times became a source of constant concern for the Russian Empire. In the modern world, thanks to the efforts of unscrupulous politicians and pro-Western media, Iran has turned into a real “scarecrow” state, which is used to scare the entire enlightened Western world. Iran's independent policy and its leadership's commitment to religious values, as opposed to the negative influence of Western civilization, have strained relations between the country and the main players in the political arena.

Despite all these myths, Persia was and remains one of those states in the world in which the original principles of governance and distribution of power have been preserved. Ancient Persia under King Darius occupied the territory from Macedonia in the West to India in the East. For many millennia, the territory of modern Iran was the scene of a variety of events, wars and uprisings, peace and prosperity of the peoples inhabiting this land. It has never been calm here. Dynasties collapsed here, the migration of different peoples, the clash of different religions and beliefs was constantly observed.

The first centralized state on the territory of Iran arose during the reign of the Achaemenid dynasty, which stubbornly and persistently conquered neighboring lands and peoples. The main religion of that time in the country was Zoroastrianism. Having withstood the battles with the Greeks of Alexander the Great and withstood the onslaught of ancient Rome, Persia not only did not disappear as a state, on the contrary, it experienced a new flourishing and rise. Only after the Sassanid Empire fell under the brutal blows of the Arabs, Zoroastrianism - this ancient religion - gave way to a new religion - Islam, which became the fundamental factor in the existence of the Persian state. Since 1501, Islam became the state religion of the country; instead of kings, sultans, emirs, shahs and padishahs reigned on the throne. Persia became a theocratic monarchy of the Shiite persuasion.

Iran today. Interesting places, attractions and interesting facts

Today, after thousands of years of its development, Iran is a very colorful eastern state, the life and existence of which very reliably confirms the popular saying - “The East is a delicate matter.” Translated from Persian, Iran means the country of the Aryans, an ancient people who became the ancestor of the white, superior race, for the purity of which a variety of rulers and religious movements have eternally fought.

Getting to know the country begins, as in a number of cases, with the country's air gates, the country's two largest airports. Previously, all international and domestic flights were received and served by Mehrabad Airport. Since 2007, the new, ultra-modern Ayatollah Khomeini Airport began to handle the bulk of international flights.

Tehran is the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Currently, Tehran is a huge city, which is one of the largest cities in the world both in terms of area and population. The city today is home to up to 9 million people, and its neighborhoods and surrounding areas are spread over an area of ​​700 km 2 . The capital of Iran is a city of contrasts, where, next to the fashionable hotels of the era of the reign of the Shah Pahlavi, there are neighborhoods of the poor, of the most varied construction. Today, the capital of Iran is experiencing a construction boom and many buildings being erected in the city meet the most modern requirements and amaze with their design and exoticism. The factor of high seismicity of the region plays a significant role in architecture, therefore many buildings and structures are built taking into account increased seismic resistance and increased safety requirements. Tehran, as the capital of the state, meets all today's requirements. The city has an excellent transport infrastructure; excellent roads connect the capital with almost all major cities and towns in the country.

Tehran is famous for its museums, of which there are a great many in the city. The government of the country, and especially the mayor’s office, treats the historical heritage of the city very carefully. In addition to museums, Tehran is famous for its mosques, which amaze visitors with their splendor and interior decoration. In the morning and evening hours, when the mullahs read namaz, Tehran resembles a fairy-tale city, where everything freezes and freezes in humble prayer. Among the numerous architectural masterpieces of Tehran, it is especially worth highlighting the famous Shah’s Takht-e-Marma palace, the parliament building and the unique, grandiose in size, Meydani Imam Square. Of particular interest to tourists is a visit to the palaces of Alikapu, Shah Qajar Fat Ali and the Tokrol Tower.

Numerous shops and shops will be a pleasant addition to any city excursion. However, no matter how many impressions visiting and sightseeing in Tehran brings, nothing can compare in its splendor and scale to a visit to the city bazaar, which is the largest oriental bazaar in the world. The effect of trade, the mass of all kinds of shops and workshops where they can make a beautiful oriental sword or dagger in front of spectators, a huge number of teahouses, cafes and restaurants of oriental cuisine, all this is collected here in one place and really amazes the imagination of the visiting layman.

Other cities of Iran. Cultural attractions and historical monuments

Among the largest cities and interesting attractions are Isfahan, Shiraz and Tabriz. Each of these cities is unique and remarkable in itself. The ancient history of these cities is inextricably linked with the formation of the Shah's state and the development of the modern Islamic state. The number of architectural monuments and cultural heritage located in Tabriz and Isfahan would be enough for the cultural development and tourist attractiveness of a single country. Isfahan is famous for its pigeon farms. At the entrance to the city you can find unique and amazing structures of cyclopean size. Even the ancients used bird droppings as fertilizers in the fields, creating massive dovecotes and shelters for these birds. In Iran, the pigeon is considered a sacred animal and today, in tribute to tradition, pigeon farms continue to supply surrounding farms and crops with bird droppings.

For tourists who want to learn more about the Near and Middle East, it’s time to visit the ancient city of Bam, the fortress of Bam, which is the ancient cultural capital of the Median state. Here are the unique citadel of Ark-e-Bam, the astronomical complex of Mirza Naim, and the building of a caravanserai. Literally a few hundred kilometers, north of Bam, lies the capital of ancient Media, the ancient city of Hamadan. Today it is a major cultural center of Iran, and in past millennia Hamadan was considered the capital of ancient Persia. Here you should definitely visit the mausoleum and museum of the ancient philosopher Avicenna, visit the ancient city park and see the famous Parthian stone lion Sang-Shir, which has long been a symbol of the Persian state.

The palace of King Darius, located in Hamadan, is considered especially revered by tourists and many pilgrims in Iran. Here, nearby are the Burj-e-Qurban tower and Bu Ali University, considered one of the most ancient educational and scientific centers in the world.

Of particular note is the Iranian city of Yazd, which is famous for its water museum. It was in this city that, for the first time in the world, a technical water supply project was carried out by a person on the scale of the city and the whole country. Water in Iran has always been highly valued, therefore, the qanat, the so-called channels for water flows, created in ancient times, became a real wonder of the world at that time. The seaside resort of Kish, which today has received international status, is very popular among the middle class population and the wealthy elite. The tourism infrastructure is actively developing here, a large number of restaurants and hotels are being built, the local airport is being improved, and access roads are being modernized.

Due to the uniqueness of its natural landscape, the country is rich in caves. The most famous among them can be found in the provinces of Iranian Kurdistan and Iranian Azerbaijan. Between November and April, the mountain slopes of Elborz are perfect for ski lovers. From the point of view of tourism development, Iran has a unique status, simultaneously possessing all the components for the development of tourism in its most popular form.

Among the wonders related directly to Iran is the Iranian calendar. The solar hijri, as the calendar is called in other words, is an official calendar that was developed with the participation of Omar Khayyam. According to the Iranian calendar, chronology is calculated from the Hijra, the time of the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Dedina. According to the Iranian calendar, the beginning of the year falls on the spring festival, Nowruz, which coincides with the vernal equinox.

As for other features that characterize Iran, one can write endlessly here. The country is so unique and inimitable that getting to know it and seeing all its attractions, understanding the cultural characteristics of Islamic Iran and the way of life in a short period of time is not realistic.

Iran's place in the world, its contribution among other countries in terms of influence on cultural and economic development, is invaluable. Thanks to its enormous oil wealth, the country is one of the top ten exporters of black gold, possessing 10% of the world's oil reserves. The country publishes more copies of the Koran than all Muslim countries combined. Thanks to the Islamic revolution, the country has set a course for universal literacy of the population. The pace of literacy development in Iran is amazing in its growth, far ahead of the enlightened monarchies of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with their high standard of living.

With all the complexity of the political situation created today around Iran, the country is worthy of the attention of the world community, to be open to international contacts and the development of tourism.