Iranians History on This Day
 
 
 
 

 
 Oct 3 


About Mehregan festivals
This piece of history will be completely edited later

    
     The days of the month in ancient Iran had specific names and the name of the 16th day of the month was ‘Mehr day’ and Mehr day of Mehr month was the most important day of Mehregan festivals. The 6-days festivals of Mehregan, in ancient Iran, would end on Mehr day of Mehr month (16th of Mehr). From the second millennium BC Iranians considered Mehregan equally important as Nowrooz and would make important occasions coincide with these days, including marriage ceremonies. School terms would start from this month, and the East Roman government (Constantinople = Istanbul) copied this tradition from Iranians and with a few days difference it has become global. After Nowrooz, Mehr ceremonies (Mehregan festival) has been the most important festival of Iranians; Nowrooz comes with spring, budding and the tidings of abundance, and Mehregan comes after collecting crops and the start of the 6 months of longer nights and cold season.
    According to the scripts of Iranian philosophers of medieval ages, like Khayam, the purpose of celebrating Mehregan was to thank God for creating all the blessings of life, the feeling of love and kindness and the inclination to doing justice, and also for strengthening love and friendship among Iranians. During Mehregan days big feasts were held and entertainment was done with variety of fruit and nuts. But it is not clear from what time entertainment with ‘ash reshteh’ (traditional soup) became a custom. It is also not clear from which period Mehr day was brought forward to 14 Mehr, and why!? (maybe because the first session of the Parliament, in presence of Mozaffareddin Shah (Qajar), in Golestan Palace, was held on 14 Mehr).
    In 2008, Iranians living abroad and the Parsis all over the world celebrated Mehregan on 2nd October (11 Mehr). In ancient times the government would celebrate the day which is now equal to 2nd October, because Darius the Great chose the first day of the 6-days (equal to 2nd October 522 BC) Mehregan celebrations to become king of Iran, and was enthroned with special ceremonies.
    According to ancient western historians (Greece and ancient Rome) Farhad II, King of Iran, from the Parthian dynasty (Khorasanis), spread this tradition in Iran from 131 BC onwards, and the heads of the government confessed their mistakes in the past year in a public ceremony, and asked for forgiveness and promised to make up for their mistakes. Farhad himself was the first to confess in this manner, on the 4th day of Mehregan festivals, in 131 BC.
    Ardeshir Papakan (Sassanian), who proclaimed kingdom over the whole of Iran, married “Mitra = Mehr = Mehrbanoo = Mehri = Mehrangiz”, the daughter of Ardavan V on the 2nd day of Mehregan festivals, in 226 AD, in Ctesiphon, to remove the grudge that the Parthians had developed against him, who had won over Ardavan, and Ardavan had lost his live in battle.
    Compilation of a set of laws for governing over Iran, on basis of Zarathushtra’s teachings, especially control of the behavior of the rulers and also the rules for legal procedures, trial and penalty were approved on 3rd day of Mehregan festivals (equal to 4th October 600 AD), by Mobed Mobedan (the then religious leader) and government authorities. The work of compilation of these laws had started from Nowrooz of that year because the compassionate officials, who were concerned about the egoism and self-centeredness of Khosrow Parviz, the then king, and his disregarding people’s rights and principles (unwritten). Until then, Iranians (the government and the people) were morally committed to consider principles, rights and values and there was no implementation guarantee (protection of sanctions).
    After victory of the constitutionalists the Parliament held the first session of its first cycle during Mehregan festivals (14 Mehr 1285 = 1906), in Golestan Palance, in presence of Mozafareddin Shah and it was decided that the constitutional year in Iran should start from the month of Mehr. This Parliament also sanctioned the supplement to the constitutional law on 15 Mehr 1286 = 1907. Most of the principles of the then constitution were included in this supplement because the basic constitution was in the shape of an introduction and a statement. The rights of the nation have been indicated in this supplement.
    Ferdowsi’s millennium celebrations started during Mehregan festivals (12 Mehr) in 1313 = 1934, in which theologians, scientists, politicians and influentials of the country, and more than 40 orientalists from other countries participated. In their lectures, the Iranologists and orientalists, while commemorating Ferdowsi and his important role as a partriot, presented documents on the history and importance of Mehregan celebrations, which are existing and are referred to.
    
    Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour
    


The Birthday of a Famous Journalist, His Opinions on Benefits of Sports and Sport Journalism
Fred Kirsch a USA Journalist
Today is the birthday of Fred Kirsch, the American Journalist who loves journalism and is loyal to its fundamentals and rules. Fred was born on October 3, 1942 and after completing a journalism course stepped into the newsroom in March 1969, and because he had a university degree in sports and sports therapy he became a sports journalist. He believes that sports and health are two necessary elements of human life that are inseparable. Daily exercise and practice are requirements to prevent illnesses and harmful addictions.
    Professional sports and championship is a unique specialty. During the 19th as well as the 20th century, due to the persistence of health professionals and sports journalists stressing the importance of sports and the benefits of daily exercise, sports became a mandatory subject at schools. During the last decade, physicians have recommended daily exercise to patients parallel to prescribing medication, and there have been several hospital based fitness and wellness centers established for the rehabilitating and specially the cardiac patients. These centers are known as “Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation”, “Supervised Exercise Programs”, “The Lifestyle Center” and “Health Center” which are run by sport therapists.
    Fred Served more than five decades, mostly as a sports journalist with the Virginian Pilot - a 400,000 circulation daily newspaper. He believes that there are journalists who make champions by skillfully writing about the athletes and describing them. Their efforts have been driving the media to read, listen and follow sports news by watching TV or attending events in stadiums and as a result; nowadays a large section of the newsrooms are dedicated to sports. Newspapers and TV channels with large numbers of audience (readers and viewers) are devoted sports fans. Glued to TV in recent decades proves the increase attraction in sports, games and matches especially the final competitions. Staying away from harmful habits is another benefit of being passionate for sports, games and matches.
    Fred, who states journalism is not just a career but an everlasting love, he is also a prolific athlete especially in track and running marathons. At age 40, he ran 40 miles (64 kilometers) and made the news.
This lifestyle center which is built next to the Chesapeake General Hospital (in the city of Chesapeake, Virginia) is an example of the health centers that are indicated by Fred Kirsch


    　
    Translated by Ara Shahnazazian
    

 



 



 



 
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