27 November 2025 — Olive Harvest Begins in Lalish, Iraq
The annual olive harvest in the sacred valley of Laleş begins on 27 November, as Ezidis gather olives that will become the oil to light every lamp of the temple. This centuries-old ritual brings the community together — men shaking the branches, women collecting the fruit, and temple workers preparing the oil that fuels the 365 lamps, a symbol of Sharfadin’s enduring light. Amid a year of drought, the harvest continues, linking the valley, its people, and the rhythms of the sacred season. In December, the lamps burn as the community looks toward winter celebrations: Aida Êzîd, Aida Xwudane (male), and Aida Sêsims.
