Tiregan

Tiregan or Jashn-e Tiregan is an ancient Iranian rain festival, observed on 1 July.

This event is celebrated in July (the Tir month of the Persian calendar) and refers to the archangel Tir (arrow) or Tishtar (lightning bolt) who appeared in the sky to generate thunder and lightning for much needed rain. Legend says that Arash-e Kamangir was a man chosen to settle a land dispute between two leaders, Iran and Turan. Arash was to shoot his arrow on the 13th day of Tir and where the arrow landed, there would lie the border between the two kingdoms.

Turan, who had suffered from the lack of rain, and Iran rejoiced the settlement of the borders, the peace and rain poured onto the two countries. Today, some Iranians celebrate this occasion with dancing, singing, reciting poetry and serving spinach soup and sholeh zard. It has also been observed that during this celebration children rejoice by swimming in streams and splashing water around. The custom of tying rainbow-colored bands on their wrists, which are worn for ten days and then thrown into a stream, is also a great way to rejoice for kids.

External links

* [http://www.iranian.com/History/2003/July/Tir/index.html Tiregan (The Iranian)]