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 and deeply tied to renewal, fertility and the sanctity of Nisan, the festival reflects the enduring spiritual heritage of the Ezidi people.
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 the deep spiritual connection between the earth, seasonal life, and the enduring faith of the Ezidi people.
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.
A festive religious service will be held at the Ezidi temple in Tbilisi to mark Çarşema Sere Nisane, welcoming the year 6776 according to the Sharfadin calendar.
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 is the term “Yezidism” used when it does not exist within the religion itself? This article addresses these questions and challenges the narratives that continue to misrepresent the Ezidi people and their religion, Sharfadin.
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 the individual, their faith, and their daily actions.
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 cake with a hidden bead or coin. During a family gathering, the cake is cut with a symbolic “plough” line and divided—first as offerings to holy beings, then among family members. The person who receives the hidden piece is believed to be blessed for the coming year. Rooted in Sharfadin, the tradition reflects both spiritual meaning and the natural cycle of rebirth.
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 images, family photographs, and community exhibitions to help preserve what genocide tried to erase.
Among the most ancient and spiritually profound celebrations in the Ezidi religious (sharfadin) calendar is the sacred feast of Xidir...
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 cultures—from Iran to Armenia and beyond—Ezidis maintain distinct traditions that blend sacred texts, local legends, and ancient rituals. The festival involves fasting, special plant-based dishes, and symbolic practices such as pêxûn preparation, hair-cutting for blessings, and matchmaking customs rooted in dreams. Folk celebrations include communal gatherings, ceremonial songs, and playful rituals like dolidang, connecting spiritual devotion with social cohesion. Across history, Xidir and Êlyas have absorbed traits from pre-Islamic and pre-Christian myths, linking Ezidi practice to ancient regional narratives of divine guidance and the quest for life-giving waters.
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 February, the days combine voluntary fasting, preparation of symbolic foods called the Sacred Seven, and rituals that invite blessings into the home. From the mystical hoofprint sign to the making of Pekhûn, the holiday celebrates healing, divine guidance, and the renewal of both body and spirit.
In 2014, the Mam Rashan Shrine on Mount Sinjar was destroyed in a campaign aimed at erasing Ezidis and their faith, Sharfadin. Its demolition was meant to sever a people from their sacred ground. Rebuilt on its original site, the shrine now stands as proof that destruction did not succeed. It is not only stone restored, but continuity reclaimed.
On the night between 3rd and 4th February, 2026 marks Şevberat, the sacred night of forgiveness and purification for Ezidis....
E'yda Çilê Zivistanê bimbarek-pîrozbe! Twice a year, Ezidis celebrate the sacred feast of çla—the Forty Days—marking both the summer and winter...
Mağara (Ezidi) Village, once abandoned during decades of violence, is reopening to tourists. The village offers a rare insight into the Ezidis, followers of Sharfadin, and their centuries-old traditions—finally shedding light on a history often misunderstood.
Ezidi Times warmly congratulates all Ezidis around the world on the sacred holiday of Aida Ezdit.
On the 16th of December, the three-day fast of Rojîyê Êzid began, honoring Sultan Ezid (Ezdit), a manifestation of the Creator in the Sharfadin faith. This sacred period of fasting, prayer, and reflection celebrates the birth of light, spiritual purification, and the divine presence in the world. Rojiyên we bi xêr û xoşî bin!
A rare set of 1930s photographs has been uncovered, capturing the daily life, traditions, and sacred sites of the Ezidi people in northern Iraq—preserving moments of a culture nearly erased by history.
This week, from 9 to 12 December 2025, Ezidis observe Aida Xwudane Male, honoring the family patron saints with fasting, reflection, and the sacred Dua Sifrê prayer—a ritual that reconnects families with their spiritual heritage and the blessings of Sharfadin.
