Sêzdek: An Aryan (read: Iranic) tradition, marking the 13th day of the year... This day is unlucky - as the number 13 is an unlucky number... So one should spend the day outside in nature to avoid bad luck the rest of the year... According to Kurdish tradition, families go to picnic in the blossoming nature - to enjoy the new spring...
Two traditions related to Sêzdek:
1) Hêksherkanê / Hêkanê
Eggs are boiled. painted in all colors and decorated with beautiful motives... Children will play Hêksherkanê - which means "Egg waring". One of the games is to hold your egg in your hand showing only some of the top of the egg - between your thumb and index finger... Then - an opponent will hit his/her egg on the egg being held - and the one which breaks, loses....
Another game is - everybody puts his/her egg behind a stick in a steep place - and when the stick is removed, the egg which rolls the furthest down wins...
2) Grass wishes....
When outside - one will put ties in the newly sprung grass (in e.g. tie the grass straws) together - and make a wish... If you have been a "good" boy/girl the year before - your wish may well come true, before the grass you tied together withers and dies when winter arrives...
When on picnic - one shares food with others and sweets to symbolize a "healthy and sweet new year"...
Sêzdek is part of the greater Newroz (New Year) celebrations... Along with Kulek Çarşembî (last Wednesday of the year - children go trick or treat) and the actual New Year (Newroz)...
Here are some pictures from Kurdistan Student Union's celebration of Sêzdek:
Happy Sêzdek - me in purple...
Lovely barbecue
Hêksherkanê (Egg waring)
Playing volleyball
Playing football
Hope you enjoyed that...
