IRNA � On Wednesday (March 20) Iranian people will visit their fathers to honor them and celebrate the day with gifts, flowers and cookies.

The Father's Day in Persian calendar coincides with the birth anniversary of Shia Muslims' first Imam Ali (AS) which is Rajab 13 in Hijri calendar.

Imam Ali is the father of other eleven Shia Muslim imams, and his wife's birth anniversary is dubbed as Mothers' Day in Persian calendar. Fatimah (SA) is daughter of the Muslims' Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh).

In Iranian culture, the day is observed in recognition of the role of fathers in family, raising the children and society as a whole.

In Islam, parents are given a high status, and the Holy Quran has frequently urged the followers to honor, respect and obey their parents. The holy book at least 15 times has referred to parents' status. Thus, on these days, Muslims and particularly Iranians go to visit their parents and express their affections to them.

In addition to the religious teachings, father is one of the pillars of family in Iranian culture. This year Father's Day falls on the day before Nowruz that is a festivity marking the Iranian New Year. Therefore the day will be celebrated with more enthusiasm, as the first day of the New Year has traditionally been a day for reunion at parents' and grandparents' home.