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For generations, the hereditary groups of Şêx, Pîr and Mirîd have been misunderstood by outsiders and too often reduced to the misleading label of a “caste system.” A recent Deutschlandfunk episode gives…
4 September marks Ezidi Flag Day, honouring the Ezdixan flag and remembering the Ezidi fighters who defended their people and homeland against IS. The observance brings together national identity and remembrance of…
On 15 August 2014, ISIS separated the Ezidis of Kocho, murdered men and boys, and abducted women and girls into slavery. Twelve years later, the village remains one of the clearest symbols…
On 14 August 2007, coordinated truck bombings devastated the Ezidi towns of Tel Azer and Siba Sheikh Khidir in Sinjar, killing hundreds. Nearly two decades later, Jumana Omar examines the hatred, political…
[Çilê Havînê] marks the completion of a forty-day period of fasting, seclusion and spiritual discipline in Sharfadin. The ancient practice remains part of Ezidi religious life and continues to be observed at…
Historical illustrations by Max Karl Tilke document Ezidi traditional clothing in the Caucasus between 1920 and 1922, including portraits of Ezidi men and women and a separate costume study from Alexandropol.
Ezidi Waterfall in Van’s Muradiye district preserves the memory of the historical Ezidi presence in eastern Turkey and stands as a visible reminder of Ezidi ancestral roots in the region.
Nathaniel Brunt, a University of Victoria postdoctoral fellow and documentary photographer, is expanding the SERSAL Project through a Hannah Arendt Fellowship in Germany. The project focuses on digitally preserving the photographic and…
Discover the history, religion, language, and identity of the Ezidis, one of the ancient ethnic peoples of the Middle East. Learn about Sharfadin, Ezdiki, the historical homeland of Ezidis, and the origins…
Ezidi New Year, known as Çarşema Serê Salê or Eida Tawis Melek, is one of the oldest and most sacred feasts in the Ezidi faith of Sharfadin. Rooted in ancient Mesopotamian traditions…
Çarşema Sare Nîsanê, also known as Aida Sarsale, is one of the most sacred feasts in the Ezidi tradition of Sharfadin. Closely tied to spring, renewal, fertility, and remembrance, the festival reflects…
A limestone Ezidi tombstone from the Ottoman period is preserved at the Archaeology and Ethnography Museum in Van.
Zerîfe Ûsê, a historic Ezidi resistance figure from Şengal, continues to inspire generations as a symbol of courage, identity, and the enduring strength of Ezidi women and Sharfadin.
Why are Ezidis still introduced through the false label of “devil worship”? Why are they wrongly presented as part of a Kurdish identity, despite a long history that shows otherwise? And why…
The Grivan (Girîvan) is a key part of the white religious garment worn by Ezidis, known as the Kiras. It refers to the neckline of the garment and reflects the connection between…
Klocha Sare Sale is a traditional Ezidi New Year cake celebrated mainly among Ezidis from the former Soviet Union. Marking renewal and the arrival of spring, the ritual involves baking a special…
Historic photographs of Ezidi life from the Penn Museum archives are being returned to the Ezidi people through a project focused on memory, heritage, and cultural restoration. The initiative brings together archival…
Among the most ancient and spiritually profound celebrations in the Ezidi religious (sharfadin) calendar is the sacred feast of Xidir Êliyas and Xidir Nebî. This holy observance reflects the deep spiritual bond…
The holiday of Xidir Nebî and Xidir Êlyas is one of the most important religious celebrations among Ezidis, honoring two revered saints associated with protection, love, and life. Though venerated across multiple…
The holiday of Xidir Êliyas and Xidir Nebî is a sacred Ezidi holiday honoring the immortal saints Xidir Êliyas and Xidir Nebî, guardians of life, love, and protection. Observed each year in…
