good news iran: Iranians Mark Nature Day at Home Under COVID Restrictions – Society/Culture news

Every year on the 13th day of spring, which is an official holiday in Iran known as the Nature Day, Iranian families go on a picnic at parks or in the countryside in celebration of the ancient festival.

‘Sizdah’ means thirteen, and ‘Bedar’ means to get rid of, bearing the meaning of ‘getting rid of thirteen’. Sizdah-bedar also marks the end of Nowruz celebrations, which begin on the first day of spring.

While Iranians have always upheld the time-honored tradition on the thirteenth day of Nowruz by spending the day outdoors, the global coronavirus pandemic has forced people to stay home this year and observe self-isolation protocols in the fight against the viral disease.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, authorities have closed all parks and public places in Iran on April 2 and have imposed severe penalties for picnicking.

Iran’s Health Ministry said on Thursday that the total number of coronavirus cases in the country has exceeded 1,897,000 and the death toll has reached 62,759.