Persian Calendar

Discover everything you need to know about one of the longest chronological records in history with this page on the Persian or Iranian Calendar.

The original Persian Calendars, also known as Iranian Calendars, are one of the longest chronological records in history. Having been used in Iran (Persia) for over two millennia, the Persian Calendar is one of the most historic Religious Calendars still in existence.

However, to suit both administrative and religious purposes, the Persian Calendar has been modified and refined many times over the years and the modern version of the Iranian Calendar is the official calendar used in Iran and Afghanistan.

History of the Persian Calendar

The earliest evidence indicates that Persians were one of the earliest cultures to use the Solar Calendar and shows that their Persian Calendar dates as far back as the second millennium B.C.

Inscriptions and Carvings found on ancient tablets show that the early Iranian culture used a 360 day calendar based entirely around solar observations. Although the days weren´t named, the twelve months of the year (consisting of 30 days) were named for festivals or activities relating to the pastoral year.

Months in the Persian Calendar

Months in the ancient Persian Calendar were divided into two or three parts depending on the Moon Phases. Every six years, a 13th month was added to keep the ancient Persian Calendar synchronized with the passing seasons. The table below lists the Persian Months in the ancient Persian Calendar:

Order	Corresponding Julian months	Old Persian	Elamite spelling	Meaning	Corresponding Babylonian month
1	March–April	Ādukanaiša	Hadukannaš	uncertain	Nīsannu
2	April–May	Θūravāhara	Turmar	Possibly "(Month of) strong spring"	Ayyāru
3	May–June	Θāigraciš	Sākurriziš	"Garlic-collecting month"	Sīmannu
4	June–July	Garmapada	Karmabataš	"Heat-station (month)"	Du'ūzu
5	July–August	–	Turnabaziš	–	Ābu
6	August–September	–	Karbašiyaš	–	Ulūlū
7	September–October	Bāgayādiš	Bakeyatiš	"(Month) of the worship of baga (god, perhaps Mithra)"	Tašrītu
8	October–November	*Vrkazana	Markašanaš	"(Month) of wolf killing"	Arahsamna
9	November–December	Āçiyādiya	Hašiyatiš	"(Month) of the worship of the fire"	Kisilīmu
10	December–January	Anāmaka	Hanamakaš	"Month of the nameless god(?)"	Tebētu
11	January–February	*Θwayauvā	Samiyamaš	"The terrible one"	Šabāţu
12	February–March	Viyax(a)na	Miyakannaš	"Digging-up (month)"	Addāru

The Current Persian Calendar

As a type of Solar Calendar, the Persian Calendar officially begins with the Spring equinox and the years are designated AP for Anno Perisco. In March 2014, the year 1393 officially began in the Persian Calendar. To find out the corresponding year according to the Gregorian Calendar, you simply need to add 621 or 622 (depending on the month of the year) to a Solar Year.

The modern Persian Calendar is divided into 12 months which include:

31 days in the first six months of the year
30 days in the five following months of the year
29 or 30 days in the final month of the year (depending on whether it is a leap year or not)

You can also have a look at the months which make up the modern Persian Calendar below for a more comprehensive understanding on when the months of the current Iranian Calendar begin and end:

	NAME	IRANIAN NAME	START DATE	DURATION
1	Farvardín	فروردین	21st March	31
2	Ordibehesht	اردیبهشت	21st April	31
3	Jordad	خرداد	22nd May	31
4	Tir	تیر	22nd June	31
5	Mordad	مرداد	23rd July	31
6	Shahrivar	شهریور	23rd August	31
7	Mehr	مهر	23rd September	30
8	Abán	آبان	23rd October	30
9	Azar	آذر	22nd November	30
10	Dey	دی	22nd December	30
11	Bahmán	بهمن	21st January	30
12	Esfand	اسفند	20th February	29/30