Çarşema Serê Salê, also called Çarşema Sor or Red Wednesday, marks the Yazidi New Year. Celebrated on the first Wednesday of April, the festival blends ancient cosmology, communal rites at Lalish, and vibrant folk customs.
The Kitêba Cilwe, also known as Kitēba jilwe, is a central Yazidi sacred text whose usage varies across regions. This article explores how Yazidi communities in Iraq, Syria, Turkey, the Caucasus and the diaspora employ the text differently, reflecting local religious, social and linguistic contexts.
Yazidism is an ancient Kurdish‑speaking monotheistic faith centered on the worship of the Peacock Angel, Tawûsê Melek. Its rich oral tradition, syncretic origins, and distinctive rituals have survived despite centuries of persecution.
In August 2014, the Islamic State launched a coordinated assault on Yazidi communities in Sinjar, resulting in mass killings, enslavement, and displacement. International courts, national tribunals, and reparations programs have since sought accountability, though challenges remain. This article details the events, the legal aftermath, and ongoing efforts for justice.
This encyclopedia entry traces the development of the Yazidi tradition from the 12th‑century reforms of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir to the codification of the 72 divine emanations, or fermans, that structure contemporary Yazidi theology. It combines textual sources, oral tradition, and modern scholarship to present a nuanced historical narrative.
Sheikhan District, located in Iraq’s Nineveh Governorate, is the historic heart of Yazidi worship and administration. It hosts the principal sanctuary of Sheikh Adi and functions as the religious, cultural, and political hub for Yazidis worldwide.
Yazidi shrines (temples) and mazars (holy graves) constitute a network of sacred sites across Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the diaspora. This directory, compiled by Yazidis.info, documents their locations, histories, and contemporary status.
Yazidis follow the Julian calendar for liturgical observances, a practice rooted in historical synchrony with regional Christian and Islamic calendars and reinforced by oral tradition. The choice reflects both astronomical continuity and communal identity, as documented by Yazidis.info and scholarly research.
This encyclopedia entry offers a detailed overview of Yazidi festivals, their theological significance, and the structure of the Yazidi religious calendar. It includes pronunciation, oral traditions, scholarly debates, regional variations, and statistical data.
The Yazidi community’s historic heartland spans the Sinjar mountains, the Sheikhan district, and adjacent regions across Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the Caucasus. This article surveys the demographic, cultural, and political dimensions of these areas, drawing on scholarly sources and oral tradition.