Rumi passed away on December 17, 1273 at sunset, according to the hagiographers. They also tell us that Konya then fell utterly silent. By legend, Rumi's cat, wishing to join him, refused food and died one week after him. His daughter buried the cat close to her father, who often celebrated animals in his work. To this day, December 17 is famous throughout Turkey as "the wedding night," a reference to Rumi's frequent observations that his death would be like a marriage celebration that would consecrate his union with the Absolute.
— Leslie Wines, Rumi: A Spiritual Biography