Thread by @kurdikermashani

The mythology of #Newroz

Zuhak was an evil king who conquered #Kurdistan  and had serpents growing from his shoulders. Zuhak's rule lasted for one thousand years; his evil reign caused spring to no longer come to Kurdistan. During this time,
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two young men were sacrificed daily and their brains were offered to Zuhak's serpents in order to alleviate his pain. However, the man who was in charge of sacrificing the two young men every day would instead kill only one man a day and mix his brains with those of a
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sheep in order to save the other man. As discontent grew against Zuhak's rule, the nobleman Fereydun planned a revolt. The revolt was led by a #Kurdish blacksmith named #Kawa who had lost six sons to Zuhak. The young men who had been saved from the fate of being 👇

sacrificed (who according to the legend were ancestors of the #Kurds were trained by Kawa into an army that marched to Zuhak's castle where Kawa killed the king with a hammer. Kawa is said to have then set fire to the hillsides to celebrate the victory and
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summon his supporters; spring returned to Kurdistan the next day
March 20 is traditionally marked as the day that Kawa defeated Zuhak. This legend is used by the Kurds to remind themselves that they are a different, 👇

strong people, and the lighting of the fires has since become a symbol of freedom.
#Newroz
#Nowruz