Iranian life is punctuated by festivals that blend ancient Persian traditions with Islamic observances.
* **Nowruz:** The Persian New Year, occurring on the spring equinox. It is the most important holiday of the year, celebrated with the *Haft-Sin* table, family visits, and a massive two-week national shutdown. * **Chaharshanbe Suri:** The Festival of Fire, celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz, involving people jumping over bonfires. * **Yalda Night (Shab-e Yalda):** The winter solstice celebration where families gather to read Hafez, eat pomegranates, and stay awake through the longest night of the year. * **Religious Events:** **Ashura** and **Tasu'a** are profound days of mourning in Shia Islam, marked by large processions, street theater (Ta'zieh), and the distribution of free food (Nazri). The holy month of **Ramadan** is widely observed. * **Cultural Events:** The **Fajr International Film Festival** (held annually in February) is Iran's premier cinematic event.
