Persian (Solar Hijri) Calendar
One of the world's most accurate solar calendars, used in Iran and Afghanistan
About the Persian (Solar Hijri) Calendar
The Solar Hijri calendar, also called the Persian calendar or Shamsi calendar, is the official calendar of Iran and Afghanistan. It is one of the world's most accurate calendar systems, with an error of only one day in 3.8 million years. The calendar begins at the vernal equinox as determined by astronomical observations from Tehran.
☀️ Key Features
- Solar Calendar - Based on Earth's revolution around the Sun
- Starts at Spring Equinox - New year begins when Sun enters Aries
- 365 or 366 days - Extremely accurate leap year calculation
- Astronomical Precision - Based on actual solar observations
- Ancient Heritage - Roots in Zoroastrian tradition, reformed in 11th century
📅 The Twelve Months
- Farvardin (فروردین) - 31 days - Spring begins, Nowruz celebration
- Ordibehesht (اردیبهشت) - 31 days - Late spring
- Khordad (خرداد) - 31 days - End of spring
- Tir (تیر) - 31 days - Summer begins
- Mordad (مرداد) - 31 days - Mid-summer
- Shahrivar (شهریور) - 31 days - End of summer
- Mehr (مهر) - 30 days - Autumn begins, harvest season
- Aban (آبان) - 30 days - Mid-autumn
- Azar (آذر) - 30 days - End of autumn
- Dey (دی) - 30 days - Winter begins
- Bahman (بهمن) - 30 days - Mid-winter
- Esfand (اسفند) - 29/30 days - End of winter, preparation for Nowruz
🎉 Major Persian Festivals & Holidays
- 1 Farvardin - Nowruz (Persian New Year) - Most important celebration
- 2-4 Farvardin - Nowruz Holidays - Extended celebration period
- 13 Farvardin - Sizdah Be-dar - Nature Day, end of Nowruz
- Last Tuesday before Nowruz - Chaharshanbe Suri - Fire festival
- 25 Khordad - Yalda Night (Winter Solstice) - Longest night celebration
- 10 Mordad - Mehregan - Autumn festival, celebrating Mithra
🌸 Nowruz - Persian New Year
Nowruz ("new day") is celebrated at the exact moment of the vernal equinox, marking the beginning of spring and the new year. It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in Iran and by Persian communities worldwide. The celebration includes setting up Haft-Seen (seven items starting with 'S'), spring cleaning, visiting relatives, and various traditional ceremonies. UNESCO has recognized Nowruz as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
🔬 Scientific Accuracy
The Persian calendar uses a sophisticated algorithm for determining leap years, based on a 2820-year cycle. This makes it more accurate than the Gregorian calendar. The calculation considers precise astronomical observations, making it the official calendar of Iran's astronomical activities and scientific community.
🌍 Historical Significance
While the calendar has ancient roots in the Zoroastrian tradition, the modern Solar Hijri calendar was officially adopted in 1925. It combines the precision of astronomical calculations with Persian cultural heritage. The epoch (year 1) corresponds to 622 CE, the same as the Islamic Hijri calendar, but uses solar years instead of lunar years.