Sepandārmazgān: The Persian Day of Love Explained (Meaning, History, and Traditions)

Sepandārmazgān: The Persian Day of Love, Women, and Earth

Around the world, people talk about Valentine’s Day. But in Iranian culture, there is an older, quieter celebration of love, women, and the earth itself: Sepandārmazgān (also written Sepandarmazgan, Sepandarmazgan, Espandegān, Esfandegān).

This ancient festival has Zoroastrian roots and goes back more than two millennia. It was once a day when women rested from everyday work, men gave them gifts, and people honored the earth as a loving, patient mother.

What is Sepandārmazgān?

Sepandārmazgān is an ancient Iranian festival of love, women, and earth, with roots in the Zoroastrian religious calendar. Historically, it was:

  • A “day of women” – especially wives and mothers.
  • A celebration of love, friendship, and devotion.
  • A feast connected to fertility and the earth, symbolized by the goddess-like figure Spenta Armaiti (Spandārmad).

Medieval authors like al-Bīrūnī describe it as a day when women were honored, freed from household duties, and received gifts from men. In some regions, it was even called mardgīrān – roughly “the day when women ‘win’ the men.”[1]

Names, spelling, and pronunciation

Because this festival has passed through different languages and calendars, it appears with several spellings:

  • Sepandārmazgān / Sepandarmazgan (سپندارمذگان)
  • Espandegān / Esfandegān (اسپندگان)
  • Spandarmad or Spandārmad (for the month/day name)

In everyday Persian, people may also call it:

  • روز عشق ایرانی – “The Iranian Day of Love”
  • جشن سپندارمذگان / جشن اسپندگان

A simple way to say it in Latin letters is: Se-pan-dar-maz-gān.

Zoroastrian origins: Spenta Armaiti and the earth

To understand Sepandārmazgān, we need to look at the Zoroastrian worldview. In this ancient Iranian religion, the supreme god Ahura Mazda works through seven “Amesha Spentas” (holy immortals). One of them is Spenta Armaiti (Avestan), known in Middle Persian as Spandārmad or Sepandārmadh.[2]

Spenta Armaiti represents:

  • Holy devotion and humble obedience to goodness.
  • The earth itself – patient, fertile, and life-giving.
  • The ideal of a kind, faithful, modest wife who loves her husband and family.

For ancient Iranians, the earth was not just “land.” It was a living, feminine presence. The qualities attributed to earth – patience, tolerance, nurturing – became a symbol of love and motherhood in human relationships as well.[3]

How Sepandārmazgān was celebrated in the past

In the old Zoroastrian calendar, every year had 12 months, and each month and each day had its own name. When the name of a day and the name of the month matched, people held a special “name-feast” (jashn-e nām).

Sepandārmazgān was the feast when:

  • The month was called Spandarmad (Esfand).
  • The day was also called Spandarmad.

Classical sources and historians tell us that on this day:

  • Women rested from work, and men did the chores instead.
  • Men brought gifts to their wives and mothers.
  • Families prayed for fertility, good harvests, and a blessed earth.[1]

Some texts also mention a related celebration called Jashn-e Barzegārān (Festival of Agriculturists), also held on the Spandarmad day, when farmers honored the earth and prayed for a good harvest.[4]

In short, this was a day when:

  • Women were placed “on a pedestal.”
  • Men showed gratitude and love with concrete actions.
  • The community acknowledged its dependence on the earth and on women’s everyday labor.

When is Sepandārmazgān? (Dates and calendars)

One of the confusing parts about Sepandārmazgān is the date. You will see different answers online: 17 February, 23–24 February, 29 Bahman, 5 Esfand, and so on.

The reason is that Iran’s calendar changed several times, and Zoroastrian communities use slightly different systems. In simple terms:

  • In the Sasanian era, Sepandārmazgān fell on the 5th day of the month Spandarmad.[1]
  • Modern reconstructions in Iran often place it on 5 Esfand or near the end of Bahman in the Solar Hijri calendar (around late February).[5]
  • Some modern Zoroastrian calendars equate it with dates like February 17 or February 23–24 in the Gregorian calendar, depending on the system.[6]

Because of this variation, many people today simply treat Sepandārmazgān as:

“The traditional Iranian Day of Love in late February, roughly around the same period as Valentine’s Day.”

Modern revival and the “Persian Valentine’s Day” label

Like many old festivals, Sepandārmazgān faded from everyday urban life for a long time. In the 20th century, scholars and cultural activists started to revive it as part of Iranian heritage.[5]

In the 2000s, as Valentine’s Day became popular in Iran (despite official pushback), some writers, clerics, and cultural figures argued that:

  • Instead of importing a Western holiday, Iranians already have their own day of love.
  • Sepandārmazgān expresses values like love of spouse, love of land, and love of God in an Iranian framework.[7]

Because of this, you’ll often see Sepandārmazgān described in English as: “Persian Valentine’s Day” or “Iranian Valentine’s Day.”

This label helps outsiders understand the basic idea, but it is not a perfect translation. The festival is older and more strongly tied to:

  • The role and dignity of women.
  • The sacredness of the earth.
  • Mutual respect in marriage and family life.

Sepandārmazgān vs. Valentine’s Day

It’s natural to compare the two. Here are a few key differences:

1. Origins and symbolism

  • Valentine’s Day has Christian and later European romantic origins. It focuses mainly on romantic love between couples.
  • Sepandārmazgān has Zoroastrian and Iranian roots. It connects women, love, and the earth as a single symbol of devotion and care.

2. Who is honored?

  • On Valentine’s Day, both partners typically exchange gifts in a fairly symmetrical way.
  • On Sepandārmazgān, the traditional focus is on honoring women—wives, mothers, and sometimes daughters—with men taking over housework and offering gifts.

3. Commercial vs. cultural

  • Valentine’s Day is heavily commercialized worldwide: chocolates, flowers, and teddy bears.
  • Sepandārmazgān is less well-known globally and often celebrated more simply—through gifts, respectful gestures, and cultural gatherings.

In today’s Iran and diaspora communities, many couples gently mix the two: they might celebrate Valentine’s Day in mid-February and then mark Sepandārmazgān as a more Iranian-flavored day of appreciation.

How people celebrate Sepandārmazgān today

There is no single “official” way to celebrate Sepandārmazgān nowadays. But common modern practices include:

  • Giving gifts to wives, fiancées, girlfriends, mothers, and sometimes sisters.
  • Sharing a meal at home, in a restaurant, or at a family gathering.
  • Writing short love notes or heartfelt messages.
  • Posting about the day on social media with explanations of its history.
  • Connecting it to environmental awareness—planting a tree, caring for plants, or talking with children about respecting the earth.

For many Iranians in the diaspora, celebrating Sepandārmazgān is also a way to:

  • Pass on culture to children.
  • Explain that Iran has its own, very old “day of love.”
  • Combine romance with heritage.

Sepandārmazgān gift ideas

If you want to mark Sepandārmazgān in a thoughtful way, you don’t need anything huge or complicated. The spirit of the day is gratitude, devotion, and softness.

1. Words, letters, and cards

  • Write a personal letter to your partner or mother, thanking them for specific things they do.
  • Use a printed or handmade postcard with a Persian motif—like calligraphy, flowers, or an illustration of an Iranian landmark.
  • Add a sentence in Persian, even if it’s short: دوستت دارم, ممنونم که هستی, or روز سپندارمذگان مبارک.

2. Small, meaningful gifts

  • Persian-inspired art (posters, prints, fridge magnets with Iranian designs).
  • Tea, sweets, or nuts arranged in a simple gift box.
  • Jewelry or accessories with traditional patterns, nazar (evil eye), pomegranate, or floral motifs.

3. Experiences instead of objects

  • Cook a favorite Persian dish together and set the table nicely.
  • Plan a walk in nature to honor the earth side of the festival.
  • Spend a “no-phones” evening simply talking, playing a game, or looking through old photos.

However you choose to celebrate, the key is to make the women in your life feel seen, appreciated, and cherished—and to remember that love is also about everyday acts of care.

Short FAQ about Sepandārmazgān

Is Sepandārmazgān exactly the same as Valentine’s Day?

No. They overlap in theme (love, couples, gifts), but Sepandārmazgān is older and more focused on women and the earth. It is sometimes called “Persian Valentine’s Day” to make it easier to explain to non-Iranians, but the roots and symbolism are different.

Is it only for married couples?

Traditionally it centered on wives and husbands, but today many people use it more broadly—to honor fiancées, girlfriends, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters, or simply to celebrate love and kindness within the family.

Is Sepandārmazgān a religious or a cultural festival?

Historically, it has Zoroastrian religious roots, but today it is often celebrated as a cultural day by Iranians of various beliefs, both inside and outside Iran.

Can I celebrate both Valentine’s Day and Sepandārmazgān?

Many people do. Valentine’s can be a more general romantic day, and Sepandārmazgān can be a special moment to highlight Iranian identity and traditions.

Sources & further reading

If you’d like to go deeper into the history and religious background of Sepandārmazgān, these sources are a good starting point:

Explore Sepandārmazgān-inspired cards & gifts

If you’re thinking of celebrating Sepandārmazgān—or simply want a more Persian-flavored alternative to Valentine’s Day—small, thoughtful gifts can make the day feel special: a postcard with Iranian artwork, a love note in Persian, a print of an Iranian landmark, or a little gift box filled with tea and sweets.

At TŪTĒ Gifts, we focus on Iranian-inspired stationery, postcards, and lifestyle gifts that help you express love in a way that still feels connected to home. You can:

  • Choose a card with a Persian design and write your own Sepandārmazgān message inside.
  • Combine a postcard, magnet, and small gift into your own “day of love” bundle.
  • Use our designs as part of a themed table, tea tray, or gift setup.

When you’re ready to plan your celebration, feel free to browse our latest collections for Sepandārmazgān and Valentine’s Day inspiration.

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