Arbaeen-e Hosseini in Iran
Arbaeen-e Hosseini is a public holiday in Iran, listed in the country’s law on official holidays. Observed on 20 Safar, it is a day of mourning on the fortieth day after Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hosayn at Karbala.[1][2]
A national public holiday
Iran’s law on official holidays names Arbaeen among the country’s public holidays. The law sets no substitute day when it falls on a weekend, and the Gregorian date changes from year to year because the holiday follows the Islamic lunar calendar.[1][2]
For residents and visitors, check opening times before visiting a government office, bank, shop or transport service. The law establishes the holiday but sets no schedules for individual businesses or transport operators.[1]
Meaning of the day
Arbaeen means “fortieth” and falls on 20 Safar, forty days after Ashura. In Shia tradition, it recalls the martyrdom of Imam Hosayn, the third imam, and his companions at Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE). Iranica describes the day as part of a cycle of remembrance connected with the burial of Hosayn and his companions and the return journey of the women taken captive after the battle.[2]
The observance is part of a wider Shia tradition, but it has a particular place in Iran’s religious calendar: the state’s holiday law explicitly includes Arbaeen, while Iranian mourning practices during Muharram and Safar are long established.[1][3]
Mourning and processions in Iran
Observances can include sermons, elegies, and mourning processions. Encyclopaedia Iranica describes processions, known as dastas, taking place on 20 Safar as well as on Ashura. Participants march while chanting and beating their chests in mourning; processions may pause at religious buildings or local shrines.[2]
Practices vary by place and community. Iranica records examples of elaborate, organized urban processions and more modest rural observances, alongside distinctive local forms in different parts of Iran.[3]
Planning around the holiday
The public-holiday listing makes Arbaeen relevant to anyone arranging appointments or errands in Iran. The law sets no hours for shops, banks or transport services, so check with the specific office or operator before setting out. Check with local organisers for details of food or events.[1]
Frequently asked questions
When is Arbaeen-e Hosseini?
It falls on 20 Safar in the Islamic lunar calendar, forty days after Ashura. Its Gregorian date changes from year to year.[2]
Is Arbaeen a public holiday in Iran?
Yes. Iran’s law on official holidays lists Arbaeen as a public holiday.[1]
Do public offices, banks, and shops close?
Check opening hours with government offices and banks before you go.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Arbaeen-e Hosseini in Iran:
- لایحه قانونی تعیین تعطیلات رسمی کشور- Nezamat legal archive
- DASTA- Encyclopaedia Iranica
- FESTIVALS iii. Shi'ite- Encyclopaedia Iranica