Jashn-e Mehregan - The Autumn Festival OF HARVEST

Zoroastrians divided the Iranian year into two equal seasons: summer and winter. The beginning of each season would then be celebrated through a big feast, one called Noruz and the other Mehregan. The coming of autumn is celebrated usually on the 9th or 10th of October (the Mehr Month of the Persian calendar) and is dedicated to the Goddess of Light Mitra or Mehr. Mehr represented knowledge, love, light and friendship. Her followers believed that she defeated evil and darkness, a scene that is often depicted with a triumphant lion residing over a bull. The word "mehr" in Farsi means kindness.

After Noruz, the festival of Mehregan is the second most elaborate celebration and marks the harvesting season and coming of winter. There are many different renditions of how and why Mehregan has come about. Some say Mehregan was a day of victory for Fereydoon and Kaveh, who won over Zahak with the help of angels. They imprisoned him in the Damavand Mountains where he perished from his wounds. Others say that the Festival of Mehregan came about when God gave light to the world, which had been dark up to that point. Yet others argue that on this day Mashia and Mashyaneh, who are the conceptual Semitic Adam and Eve, were created or some say, the sun was created. No matter what the origins, Persians all over celebrate this festival in the fall signifying the season of harvest and thanks. Friendships are renewed and families are visited.

Iranians have different ways of celebrating Mehergan. Historically and still today in some parts of Yazd, sheep are sacrificed for this occasion by Zoroastrians on the day of Mehregan. Sometimes they continue this tradition for three days. The sheep is grilled on a three-stone oven, to represent the good words, good deeds and good thoughts which is the cornerstone of the religion. At the end, the sheep is given to the fire temple. The fat of the sheep is strewed on the flames and prayers are held. Mehergan can last up to five days.

In modern days, families gather to celebrate and welcome the new season much like they do with Noruz and the coming of spring. Preparations are made to get ready for winter and thanks is given to the harvest. For this celebration old and young gather to reconnect and prepare foods to share with the poor and those in need. Ajil is made and handed out to friends and relatives. Traditional Persian Aash dishes are cooked along with lamb, rice dishes, dessets, and the like. Celebrations can end with bonfires and fireworks preparing the children for the new school year and rejoicing on this merry occasion.