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Theculture of Iran (Persian:فرهنگ ایران) orculture of Persia[1][2][3] is one of the oldest and among the most influential in the world.Iran (Persia) is widely regarded as one of thecradles of civilization.[4][5][6][7] Because of its dominantgeopolitical position in the world, it has heavily influenced peoples and cultures situated inSouthern andEastern Europe to the west;Central Asia to the north; andSouth Asia,East Asia, andSoutheast Asia to the east.[4][5][8]Iranian history has significantly influenced the world throughart,architecture,poetry,science and technology,medicine,philosophy, andengineering.
An "eclectic cultural elasticity" has been said to be one of the key defining characteristics of the Iranian identity and a clue to its historical longevity.[9]
The history of Iran's culture is marked by the influence of ancient civilizations such as theElamites andPersians, as well as theAchaemenid andSassanian empires.[10]
TheArab conquest in the 7th century introduced Islamic traditions, which merged with pre-Islamic customs. This fusion resulted in a distinct cultural identity characterized by significant contributions toliterature,art, and philosophy.[11] Iran has historically served as a center of culture and learning, impacting the surrounding region.[4][5][6][7] TheSouth Caucasus andCentral Asia "occupy an important place in the historical geography of Persian civilization." Much of the region was included in the pre-IslamicPersian empires, and many of its ancient peoples either belonged to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European peoples (e.g.Medes andSoghdians), or were in close cultural contact with them (e.g. theArmenians).[12] In the words of IranologistRichard Nelson Frye:
Many times I have emphasized that the present peoples of central Asia, whether Iranian or Turkic speaking, have one culture, one religion, one set of social values and traditions with only language separating them.
The culture of Persia has thus developed over several thousand years. But historically, the peoples of what are nowIran,Kurdistan Region,[13]Armenia,Azerbaijan,Turkey,Uzbekistan,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan,[14][15] EasternGeorgia, andAfghanistan are related to one another as part of the larger group of peoples of theGreater Iranian cultural and historical sphere. TheNorthern Caucasus is well within the sphere of influence of Persian culture as well, as can be seen from the many remaining relics, ruins, and works of literature from that region.[16][17]
Iran has one of the oldest, richest, and most influential art heritages in the world,[18][19] which encompasses many disciplines includingliterature,music,dance,architecture,painting,weaving,pottery,calligraphy,metalworking,embroidery, andstonemasonry. Iranian art has gone through numerous phases, which is evident from the unique aesthetics of Iran. From theElamiteChogha Zanbil to theMedian and Achaemenid reliefs ofPersepolis to themosaics ofBishapur.
TheIslamic Golden Age brought changes to the styles and practice of the arts. However, each Iranian dynasty had its own particular foci, building upon the previous dynasty's, all of which during their times were heavily influential in shaping the cultures of the world then and today.
There is a resurgence of interest in Iranian contemporary artists and in artists from the larger Iranian diaspora. Key notables includeShirin Aliabadi, Mohammed Ehsai, Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh,Golnaz Fathi,Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Parastou Forouhar,Pouran Jinchi,Farhad Moshiri,Shirin Neshat, Parviz Tanavoli, Y. Z. Kami, and Charles Hossein Zenderoudi.[20]
Severallanguages are spoken throughout Iran, including languages from theIranian,Turkic, andSemitic language families. According to theCIA World Factbook, 78% of Iranians speak an Iranian language as theirnative tongue, 18% speak a Turkic language as their native tongue, and 2% speak a Semitic language as their native tongue, while the remaining 2% speak languages from various other groups.[21] Although theAzerbaijanis speak a Turkic language, their culture, history, and genetics are often associated with theIranian people.[22]
The predominant language and national language of Iran isPersian, which is spoken fluently across the country.Azerbaijani is spoken primarily and widely in the northwest,Kurdish andLuri are spoken primarily in the west,Mazandarani andGilaki are spoken in the regions along theCaspian Sea,Arabic primarily in the Persian Gulf coastal regions,Balochi primarily in the southeast, andTurkmen primarily in northern border regions. Smaller languages spread in other regions notably includeTalysh,Georgian,Armenian,Assyrian, andCircassian, amongst others.[23][24][25]
Ethnologue estimates that there are 86 Iranian languages, the largest among them being Persian,Pashto, and the Kurdish dialect continuum with an estimated 150–200 million native speakers of the Iranian languages worldwide.[26][27][28] Dialects of Persian are sporadically spoken throughout the region from China to Syria to Russia, though mainly in theIranian Plateau.
Theliterature of Iran is one of the world's oldest and most celebrated, spanning over 2,500 years from the many Achaemenid inscriptions, such as theBehistun inscription, to the celebrated Iranian poets of the Islamic Golden Age and modern Iran.[29][30][31]Iranian literature has been described as one of the great literature of humanity and one of the four main pillars of world literature.[32][33]L.P. Elwell-Sutton describes the literature of the Persian language as "one of the richest poetic literature of the world".[34]
Very few literary works ofpre-Islamic Iran have survived following the destruction of the libraries ofPersepolis byAlexander the Great and the subsequentinvasion of Iran by the Arabs in 641, who sought to eradicate all non-Quranic texts.[35] This resulted in all Iranian libraries being destroyed and books either being burnt or thrown into rivers. The only way that Iranians could protect these books was to bury them, but many of the texts were forgotten over time.[35] As soon as circumstances permitted, the Iranians wrote books and assembled libraries.[35]
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Iranian literature encompasses a variety of literature in the languages used in Iran. Modern Iranian literature includesPersian literature,Azerbaijani literature,Kurdish literature, and the literature of the remaining minority languages. The Persian language has been often dubbed as the most worthy language of the world to serve as a conduit for poetry.[36] Azerbaijani literature was developed highly after Iran's first reunification in 800 years under theSafavid Empire, whose rulers themselves wrote poetry.[37] There remain a few literary works of the extinct Iranian language ofOld Azeri that was used inAzerbaijan prior to the linguistic Turkification of the people of the region.[38] Kurdish literature has incorporated the various Kurdish dialects that are spoken throughout theMiddle East. The earliest works of Kurdish literature are those of the 16th-century poetMalaye Jaziri.[39]
Some notable poets includeFerdowsi,Saadi,Hafiz,Attar,Nezami,Jami,Rumi,Omar Khayyam,Taleb Amoli,Ubayd Zakani,Shams Tabrizi,Rudaki andVahshi Bafqi.[40][41] These poets have inspiredGoethe,Ralph Waldo Emerson, and many others. Contemporary literature has been influenced by classical Persian poetry, but also reflects the particularities of modern-day Iran, through writers such asHoushang Moradi-Kermani, the most translated modern Iranian author, and poetAhmad Shamlou.[42]
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Iranian music has directly influenced the cultures ofWest Asia,Central Asia,Europe, andSouth Asia.[43] It has mainly influenced and built up much of the musical terminology of the neighboring Turkic and Arabic cultures and reached India through the 16th-centuryPersianateMughal Empire, whose court promoted new musical forms by bringing Iranian musicians.[43]
Iran is the place of origin of complex instruments, with the instruments dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.[44] Severaltrumpets made of silver, gold, and copper were found in eastern Iran that are attributed to theOxus civilization and date back between 2200 and 1750 BC. The use of both vertical and horizontalangular harps have been documented at the archaeological sites of Madaktu (650 BC) andKul-e Fara (900–600 BC), with the largest collection of Elamite instruments documented at Kul-e Fara. Multiple depictions of horizontal harps were also sculpted inAssyrian palaces, dating back between 865 and 650 BC.[44]
The reign of Sassanian rulerKhosrow II is regarded as a "golden age" for Iranian music. Sassanid music is where many the many music cultures of the world trace their distant origins. The court of Khosrow II hosted several prominent musicians, including Azad,Bamshad,Barbad,Nagisa, Ramtin, andSarkash. Among these attested names, Barbad is remembered in many documents and has been named as remarkably highly skilled. He was a poet-musician who developedmodal music and may have invented thelute and the musical tradition that was to transform into the forms ofdastgah andmaqam.[44][45][46] He has been credited to have organized a musical system consisting of seven "royal modes" (xosrovāni), 30 derived modes (navā), and 360 melodies (dāstān).[44][45]
The academicclassical music of Iran, in addition to preservingmelody types that are often attributed to Sassanian musicians, is based on the theories of sonic aesthetics as expounded by the likes of Iranian musical theorists in the early centuries after theMuslim conquest of the Sasanian Empire, most notablyAvicenna,Farabi,Qotb-ed-Din Shirazi, andSafi-ed-Din Urmawi.[43]
Iran has a rich and ancient dance culture that extends from the 6th millennium BC. Dances from ancient artifacts, excavated at the archaeological pre-historic sites of Iran, portray a vibrant culture that mixes different forms of dances for all occasions. In conjunction with music, the artifacts depicted actors, dancers, and ordinary people dancing in plays, dramas, celebrations, mourning, and religious rituals with equipment such as costumes of animals or plants, masks, and surrounding objects. As time progressed, this culture of dance began to develop and flourish.[47]
Although the cultures of its ethnic groups are very similar and in most areas nearly identical, each has its own distinct and specific dance style. Iran possesses four categories of dance with these being: group dances, solo improvisational dances, war or combat dances, and spiritual dances. Typically, the group dances are often unique and named after the region or the ethnic groups with which they are associated. These dances can be chain dances involving a group or the more common group dances mainly performed at festive occasions like weddings andNoruz celebrations which focus less on communal line or circle dances and more on solo improvisational forms, with each dancer interpreting the music in their special way but within a specific range of dance vocabulary sometimes blending other dance styles or elements.[48]Solo dances are usually reconstructions of thehistorical and court dances of the various Iranian dynasties throughout history, with the most common types being that of theSafavid andQajar dynasties due to them being relatively newer.[48] These often are improvisational dances and utilize delicate, graceful movements of the hands and arms, such as wrist circles.[48]
War or combat dances imitate combat or serve as training for warriors. For instance, the ritualized wrestling movements of theZurkhaneh ("House of Strength") are considered a form of dance called "Raghs-e-Pa" or "Pay-Bazi." These movements also resemblemartial arts and are part of the cultural heritage of warrior training.[48][49] Spiritual dances are known as "sama". These dances serve spiritual purposes, such as removing ill omens or exorcising evil spirits. These dances involve trance, music, and complex movements. One example is theBalochi dance "le'b gowati", performed to rid a possessed person of the offending spirit. In theBalochi language, the term "gowati" refers to psychologically ill patients who have recovered through music and dance.[50][51]
The earliest researched dance from Iran is a dance worshipingMithra, theZoroastrian angelic divinity of covenant, light, and oath, which was used commonly by theRomancult of Mithra.[52] One of the cult's ceremonies involved the sacrifice of a bull followed by a dance that promoted vigor in life.[52]
Iranian architecture dates back to at least 5000 BC with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Turkey and Iraq to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the South Caucasus and Zanzibar. Currently, there are 19UNESCO-designatedWorld Heritage Sites that were designed and constructed by Iranians, with 11 of them being located outside of Iran. Iranian architecture displays a great variety of both structure and aesthetics and despite the repeated trauma of destructive invasions and cultural shocks, the Iranian zeal and identity has always triumphed and flourished. In turn, it has greatly influenced the architecture of its invaders from theGreeks to theArabs to theTurks.[53][54]
The traditional theme of Iranian architecture is cosmic symbolism, which depicts the communication and participation of man with the powers of heaven. This theme has given continuity and longevity to the architecture and has been a primary source of the emotional character of the nation. Architecture ranges from simple structures to "some of the most majestic structures the world has ever seen".[54][55] Architectural style is the combination of intensity and simplicity to form immediacy, while ornament and, often, subtle proportions reward sustained observation. Iranian architecture makes use of abundant symbolic geometry, using pure forms such as the circle and square, and plans are based on often symmetrical layouts featuring rectangular courtyards and halls. The paramount virtues of Iranian architecture are: "a marked feeling for form and scale; structural inventiveness, especially invault anddome construction; a genius for decoration with a freedom and success not rivaled in any other architecture".[56]
The traditional architecture is categorized into two families and six following classes or styles. The two categories are Zoroastrian and Islamic, which reference the eras of pre-Islamic and post-Islamic Iran, and the six styles, in order of their era, are Parsian, Parthian Khorasani, Razi, Azari, Esfahani. The pre-Islamic styles draw on 3,000 to 4,000 years of architectural development from the various civilizations of the Iranian plateau. The post-Islamic architecture draws ideas from its pre-Islamic predecessor and has geometrical and repetitive forms, as well as surfaces that are richly decorated with glazed tiles, carvedstucco, patterned brickwork, floralmotifs, andcalligraphy.[57]
In addition to historic gates, palaces, bridges, buildings, and religious sites that highlight the highly developed supremacy of the Iranian art of architecture, gardens are also an example of cosmic symbolism and unique style of combining intensity and simplicity for form immediacy.[53][55] There are currently 14 Iranian gardens that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with 5 of them being located outside of Iran.[58] The traditional style of Iranian gardens is to represent an earthly paradise or a heaven on Earth. From the time of the Achaemenid Empire, the idea of an earthly paradise spread through Iranian literature to other cultures, with the word for paradise in the Iranian languages of Avestan, Old Persian, and Median, spreading to languages across the world.[59] The style and design of the Iranian garden greatly influenced the garden styles of countries from Spain to Italy and Greece to India, with some notable examples of such gardens being the gardens of theAlhambra in Spain,Humayun's Tomb, and theTaj Mahal in India, theHellenistic gardens of theSeleucid Empire and thePtolemies inAlexandria.[59]
Iranian cuisine refers to the culinary practices of Iran. Due to the historically common usage of the term "Persia" to refer to Iran in theWestern world,[60][61][3] it is alternatively known as Persian cuisine, despitePersians being only one of a multitude ofIranian ethnic groups who have contributed to Iran's culinary traditions.[a] The cuisine of Iran has made extensive contact throughout its history with the cuisines of its neighbouring regions, includingcuisine from the Caucasus,Central Asian cuisine,Greek cuisine,Levantine cuisine,Mesopotamian cuisine,Russian cuisine andTurkish cuisine.[63][64][65][66] Aspects of Iranian cuisine have also been significantly adopted byIndian cuisine andPakistani cuisine through various historicalPersianate sultanates that flourished duringMuslim rule on the Indian subcontinent, with the most notable and influential of these polities being theMughal Empire.[67][68][69]
Typical Iranian main dishes are combinations of rice with meat, vegetables and nuts. Herbs are frequently used, along with fruits such asplums,pomegranates,quince,prunes,apricots andraisins. Characteristic Iranian spices and flavourings such assaffron,cardamom, anddried lime and other sources of sour flavoring,cinnamon,turmeric andparsley are mixed and used in various dishes. Outside of Iran, a strong presence of Iranian cuisine can be found in cities with significantIranian diaspora populations, namely theSan Francisco Bay Area,Toronto,[70][71][72][73]Houston and especiallyLos Angeles and its environs.[70][71][74]
Bread an important food, with a large variety, some of the most popular of which include:nan and hamir, which are baked in large clay ovens (also called "tenurs"). There are many dishes that are made from dairy products. One of the most popular of which includes yoghurt ("mast")—which has a specific fermentation process that is widely put to use amongst most Iranians. In addition,mast is used to make soup and is vital in the production of oil. In addition to these dairy products, Iranian cuisine involves a lot of dishes cooked from rice. Some popular rice dishes include boiled rice with a variety of ingredients such as meats, vegetables, and seasonings ("plov") including dishes like chelo-horesh, shish kebab with rice, chelo-kebab, rice with lamb, meatballs with rice, and kofte (plain boiled rice). In addition, Iranian cuisine is famous for its sweets. One of the most famous of which includes "baklava" with almonds, cardamom, and egg yolks. Iranian sweets typically involve the use of honey, cinnamon, lime juice, and sprouted wheat grain. One very popular dessert drink in Iran, "sherbet sharbat-portagal", is made from a mixture of orange peel and orange juice boiled in thin sugar syrup and diluted with rose water. Just like the people of many Middle Eastern countries the preferred drink of the people of Iran is tea (without milk) or "kakhve-khana".[75]
Zoroastrianism,ancient Iranic, was the faith of Iran's people for more than a millennium before the Rashidun conquest. It has had an immense influence on Iranian philosophy, culture and art after the people of Iran adopting Islam.[76] The PersianSamanid dynasty made great attempts to spread the Islamic faith in the 9th and 10th century while promoting a Persian cultural revival. Until the 16th century, Iran was majoritySunni ushering a golden age of the arts and sciences.[76] In 1501 theSafavid dynasty took control of Iran and madeShia Islam the state religion, with this being one of the most important events in Islamic history.[76]
Today of the 98% of Muslims living in Iran, around 89% are Shi'a and around 9% are Sunni. This is quite the opposite trend of the percentage distribution of Shi'a to Sunni Islam followers in the rest of the Muslim population in the Middle East and throughout the rest of the world.
Followers of theBaháʼí Faith form the largest non-Muslim minority in Iran. Baháʼís are scattered throughout small communities in Iran, although there seems to be a large population of Baháʼís inTehran. The Iranian government actively pursues thepersecution of Baháʼís.
Followers of theChristian faith consist of around 250,000 Armenians, around 32,000Assyrians, and a small number of Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant Iranians that have been converted by missionaries in earlier centuries. Thus, Christians that live in Iran are primarily descendants of indigenous Christians that were converted during the 19th and 20th centuries. Judaism is an officially recognized faith in Iran, and in spite of the hostilities between Iran and Israel over the Palestinian issue, the millennia-old Jewish community in Iran enjoys the right to practise their religion freely as well as a dedicated seat in parliament to a representative member of their faith. In addition to Christianity and Judaism, Zoroastrianism is another officially recognized religion in Iran, although followers of this faith do not hold a large population in Iran. In addition, although there have been instances of prejudice against Zoroastrians, most followers of this faith have not faced widespread persecution.[77]
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Iranian philosophy can be traced back as far as Old Iranian philosophical traditions and thoughts which originated in ancientIndo-Iranian roots and were influenced byZarathustra's teachings. Throughout Iranian history and due to remarkable political and social changes such as the Arab and Mongol invasions, a wide spectrum of schools of thoughts showed a variety of views on philosophical questions, extending from Old Iranian and mainly Zoroastrianism-related traditions, to schools appearing in the late pre-Islamic era such asManichaeism andMazdakism as well as post-Islamic schools.
TheCyrus Cylinder is seen as a reflection of the questions and thoughts expressed byZoroaster and developed in Zoroastrian schools of the Achaemenid era.[78] Post-Islam Iranian philosophy is characterised by different interactions with theOld Iranian philosophy, theGreek philosophy and with the development ofIslamic philosophy. TheIllumination School and theTranscendent Philosophy are regarded as two of the main philosophical traditions of that era in Iran. Contemporary Iranian philosophy has been limited in its scope byintellectual repression.[79]
Iranian mythology consists of ancientIranian folklore and stories of extraordinary beings reflecting ongood and evil (Ahura Mazda andAhriman), actions of the gods, and the exploits of heroes and creatures. The tenth-century Persian poet,Ferdowsi, is the author of thenational epic known as theShahnameh ("Book of Kings"), which is for the most part based onXwadāynāmag, aMiddle Persian compilation of the history of Iranian kings and heroes,[80] as well as the stories and characters of theZoroastrian tradition, from the texts of theAvesta, theDenkard, theVendidad and theBundahishn. Modern scholars study the myths to shed light on the religious and political institutions of not only Iran but of theGreater Iran, which includes regions of West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Transcaucasia where the culture of Iran has had significant influence.
Storytelling has a significant presence in Iranian folklore and culture.[81] In classical Iran, minstrels performed for their audiences at royal courts and in public theatres.[82] A minstrel was referred to by theParthians asgōsān, and by theSasanians as huniyāgar.[83] Since the Safavid Empire, storytellers and poetry readers appeared at coffeehouses.[84][85] After the Iranian Revolution, it took until 1985 to found theMinistry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts,[86] a heavily centralised organisation supervising all kinds of cultural activities. It held the first scientific meeting on anthropology and folklore in 1990.[87]
The Persian year begins in thevernal equinox: if the astronomical vernal equinox comes before noon, then the present day is the first day of the Persian year. If the equinox falls after noon, then the next day is the official first day of the Persian year. The Persian calendar, which is the official calendar of Iran, is a solar calendar with a starting point that is the same as the Islamic calendar. According to the Iran Labor Code, Friday is the weekly day of rest. Government official working hours are from Saturday to Wednesday (from 8 am to 4 pm).[88]
Iran's officialNew Year begins withNowruz, an ancient Iranian tradition celebrated annually on thevernal equinox and described as thePersian New Year.[90] It was registered on the UNESCO's list ofMasterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2009.[91] On the eve of the last Wednesday of the preceding year, as a prelude to Nowruz, the ancient festival ofبārڑanbe Suri celebratesĀtar ("fire") by performing rituals such as jumping over bonfires and lighting fireworks.[92][93]
Yaldā, another ancient tradition,[94] commemorates the ancient goddessMithra and marks the longest night of the year on the eve of thewinter solstice (usually on 20 or 21 December),[95][96] during which families gather to recite poetry and eat fruits.[97][98] In some regions ofMazanderan andMarkazi,[99][100][101][102] there is a midsummer festival,Tirgān, which is observed onTir 13 (2 or 3 July) as a celebration of water.[103][104]
Islamic annual events such asRamezān,Eid e Fetr, andRuz e Āڑurā are marked by the country's population, Christian traditions such asNoel,[105]elle ye Ruze, andEid e Pāk are observed by the Christian communities, Jewish traditions such asHanukā[106] andEid e Fatir (Pesah)[107][108] are observed by the Jewish communities, and Zoroastrian traditions such asSade[109] andMehrgān are observed by the Zoroastrians.
Islamic annual events such asRamezān,Eid e Fetr, andRuz e Āڑurā are marked by the country's population, Christian traditions such asNoel,elle ye Ruze, andEid e Pāk are observed by the Christian communities, Jewish traditions such asHanukā andEid e Fatir (Pesah) are observed by the Jewish communities, and Zoroastrian traditions such asSade andMehrgān are observed by the Zoroastrians.Although the date of certain holidays in Iran are not exact (due to the calendar system they use, most of these holidays are around the same time), some of the major public holidays in Iran includeOil Nationalization Day (20 March). Yalda (which is the longest night of the year) (21 December), the Prophet's Birthday and Imam Sadeq (4 June), and the Death ofImam Khomeini (5 June). Additional holidays include The Anniversary of the Uprising Against the Shah (30 January),Ashoura (11 February), Victory of the1979 Islamic Revolution (20 January),Sizdah-Bedar—Public Outing Day to end Nowrooz (1 April), andIslamic Republic Day (2 April).
With 26, Iran has one of the world's highest number of public holidays.[110][111] It ranks 1st in the world with the most paid leave days: 52.[112][113] Iran's official calendar is theSolar Hejri calendar, beginning at the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.[114] Each of the 12 months of the Solar Hejri calendar correspond with a zodiac sign, and the length of each year is solar.[114] Alternatively, theLunar Hejri calendar is used to indicate Islamic events, and theGregorian calendar marks international events.
Legal public holidays based on the Iranian solar calendar include the cultural celebrations of Nowruz (Farvardin 1–4; 21–24 March) and Sizdebedar (Farvardin 13; 2 April), and the political events ofIslamic Republic Day (Farvardin 12; 1 April), the death ofRuhollah Khomeini (Khordad 14; 4 June), theKhordad 15 event (Khordad 15; 5 June), the anniversary of theIranian Revolution (Bahman 22; 10 February), andOil Nationalisation Day (Esfand 29; 19 March).[115]
Lunar Islamic public holidays include Tasua (Muharram 9), Ashura (Muharram 10), Arba'een (Safar 20), Muhammad's death (Safar 28), the death of Ali al-Ridha (Safar 29 or 30), the birthday of Muhammad (Rabi-al-Awwal 17), the death of Fatimah (Jumada-al-Thani 3), the birthday of Ali (Rajab 13), Muhammad's first revelation (Rajab 27), the birthday of Muhammad al-Mahdi (Sha'ban 15), the death of Ali (Ramadan 21), Eid al-Fitr (Shawwal 1–2), the death of Ja'far al-Sadiq (Shawwal 25), Eid al-Qurban (Zulhijja 10), and Eid al-Qadir (Zulhijja 18).[115]
There are two stages in a typical wedding ritual in Iran. Sometimes, both phases take place in one day. The first stage is known as "Aghd", which is basically the legal component of marriage in Iran. In this process, the bride and groom, as well as their respective guardians, sign a marriage contract. This phase usually takes place in the bride's home. After this legal process is over, the second phase, "Jashn-e Aroosi" lasts 3 to 7 days and includes feasts and celebrations. The ceremony takes place in a decorated room with flowers and a beautifully decorated spread on the floor.
This spread is typically passed down from mother to daughter and is composed of very nice fabric such as "Termeh" (cashmere), "Atlas" (gold embroideredsatin), or "Abrisham" (silk). Items are placed on the spread include a mirror (of fate), two candelabras (representing the bride and groom and their bright future), a tray of seven multi-colored herbs and spices (including poppy seeds, wild rice, angelica, salt, nigella seeds, black tea, and frankincense). These herbs and spices play specific roles ranging from breaking spells and witchcraft, to blinding the evil eye, to burning evil spirits. In addition to these herbs/spices, a special baked and decorated flatbread, a basket of decorated eggs, decorated almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts (in their shell to represent fertility), a basket of pomegranates/apples (for a joyous future as these fruits are considered divine), a cup of rose water (from special Persian roses)—which helps perfume the air, a bowl made out of sugar (apparently to sweeten life for the newlywed couple), and a brazier holding burning coals and sprinkled with wild rue (as a way to keep the evil eye away and to purify the wedding ritual) are placed on the spread as well. Additional items include a bowl of gold coins (to represent wealth and prosperity), a scarf/shawl made of silk/fine fabric (to be held over the bride and groom's head at certain points in the ceremony), two sugar cones (which are ground above the bride and groom's head, thus symbolizing sweetness/happiness), a cup of honey (to sweeten life), a needle and seven strands of colored thread (the shawl that is held above the bride and groom's head is sewn together with the string throughout the ceremony), and a copy of the couple'sHoly Book (other religions require different texts); but all of these books symbolize God's blessing for the couple.[116]
An early age in marriage—especially for brides—is a long documented feature of marriage in Iran. While the people of Iran have been trying to legally change this practice by implementing a higher minimum in marriage, there have been countless blocks to such attempts. Although the average age of women being married has increased by about five years in the past couple decades, young girls being married is still common feature of marriage in Iran—even though there is an article in the Iranian Civil Code that forbid the marriage of women younger than 15 years of age and males younger than 18 years of age.[117]
In Iran,Persian rugs have always been a vital part of the Persian culture. Iranians were some of the first people in history to weave carpets. First deriving from the notion of basic need, the Persian rug started out as a simple/pure weave offabric that helped nomadic people living in ancient Iran stay warm from the cold, damp ground. As time progressed, the complexity and beauty of rugs increased to a point where rugs are now bought as decorative pieces.[118] Because of the long history of fine silk and wool rug weaving in Iran, Persian rugs are world-renowned as some of the most beautiful, intricately designed rugs available. Around various places in Iran, rugs seem to be some of the most prized possessions of the local people. Iran currently produces more rugs and carpets than all other countries in the world put together.[119]
The date of the emergence of weaving in Iran is not known, but it is likely to coincide with the emergence of civilisation.Ferdowsi and many historians have consideredKeyumars to be first to use animals' skin and hair as clothing, while others proposeHushang.[120] Ferdowsi considersTahmuras to be a kind of textile initiator in Iran. The clothing of ancient Iran took an advanced form, and the fabric and colour of clothing became very important. Depending on the social status, eminence, climate of the region and the season,Persian clothing during the Achaemenian period took various forms. This clothing, in addition to being functional, had an aesthetic role.[120]
A 3rd-millennium BC earthen goblet discovered at theBurnt City in southeast Iran depicts what could be the world's oldest example of animation.[122] The earliest attested Iranian examples of visual representations, however, are traced back to the bas-reliefs of Persepolis, the ritual centre of the Achaemenid Empire.[123]
The first Iranian filmmaker was probablyMirza Ebrahim (Akkas Bashi), the court photographer ofMozaffar-ed-Din of the Qajar Empire. Mirza Ebrahim obtained a camera and filmed the Qajar ruler's visit to Europe. In 1904,Mirza Ebrahim (Sahhaf Bashi) opened the first public cinema in Tehran.[124] The first Iranian feature film,Abi and Rabi, was a silent comedy directed byOvanes Ohanian in 1930. The first sound one,Lor Girl, was produced byArdeshir Irani andAbd-ol-Hosein Sepanta in 1932. Iran's animation industry began by the 1950s and was followed by the establishment of the influentialInstitute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults in 1965.[125][126]
With the screening of the filmsQeysar andThe Cow, directed byMasoud Kimiai andDariush Mehrjui respectively in 1969, alternative films set out to establish their status in the film industry andBahram Beyzai'sDownpour andNasser Taghvai'sTranquility in the Presence of Others followed. Attempts to organise a film festival, which had begun in 1954 within the Golrizan Festival, resulted in the festival of Sepas in 1969. It also resulted in the formation of Tehran's World Film Festival in 1973.[127]
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Following the Cultural Revolution, a new age emerged in Iranian cinema, starting withLong Live! byKhosrow Sinai and followed by other directors, such asAbbas Kiarostami andJafar Panahi. Kiarostami, an acclaimed director, planted Iran firmly on the map of world cinema when he won thePalme d'Or forTaste of Cherry in 1997.[129] The presence of Iranian films in prestigious international festivals, such asCannes,Venice andBerlin, attracted attention to Iranian films.[130] In 2006, 6 films represented Iranian cinema at Berlin; critics considered this a remarkable event in Iranian cinema.[131][132]Asghar Farhadi, an Iranian director, has received aGolden Globe Award and twoAcademy Awards, representing Iran for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012 and 2017, withA Separation andThe Salesman.[133][134][135] In 2020,Ashkan Rahgozar's "The Last Fiction" became the first representative of Iranian animated cinema in the competition section, inBest Animated Feature andBest Picture categories at theAcademy Awards.[136][137][138][139]
The oldest Iranian initiation of theatre can be traced to ancient epic ceremonial theatres such asSug-e Siāvuڑ ("mourning ofSiāvaڑ"), as well as dances and theatre narrations of Iranian mythological tales reported byHerodotus andXenophon. Iran's traditional theatrical genres include Baqqāl-bāzi ("grocer play", a form of slapstick comedy), Ruhowzi (orTaxt-howzi, comedy performed over a courtyard pool covered with boards), Siāh-bāzi (the central comedian appears in blackface), Sāye-bāzi (shadow play), Xeyme-ڑab-bāzi (marionette), and Arusak-bāzi (puppetry), andTa'zie (religious tragedy plays).[140]
TheRoudaki Hall is home to the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, the Tehran Opera Orchestra, and theIranian National Ballet Company, and was officially renamedVahdat Hall after the revolution.
The game ofpolo originated with Iranian tribes in ancient times and was regularly seen throughout the country until the revolution of 1979 when it became associated with the monarchy. It continues to be played, but only in rural areas and discreetly. Recently, as of 2005, it has been gaining more attention. In March 2006, there was a highly publicized tournament and all significant matches are televised.
Since the 1979 Revolution, Iranian women have lost nearly all the rights they had gained in 1962 under the rule ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi. Many restrictive and legal measures have been imposed since 1979, including mandatory Hijab. By law, women's testimony in court is worth half of that of men under the rule of the Islamic Regime, the age of consent for women is 9, and marital rape is legal. Women cannot leave the country without the formal permission of their guardians (father or husband). They cannot run for presidency or become a judge. This is a striking change from the full and equal rights that women enjoyed during the Pahlavi era. The Iranian women who had gained confidence and higher education during the Pahlavi era participated in demonstrations against the Shah to topple the monarchy. The culture of education for women was very strongly established by the time of revolution so that even after the revolution, large numbers of women entered civil service and higher education.[141] Even though the Islamic Republic pushed back on women's rights, Iranian women have been at the forefront of progress, education and battle for freedom. In 1996, 14 women were elected to theIslamic Consultative Assembly. In 2003, Iran's first female judge during the Pahlavi era,Shirin Ebadi, won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in promoting human rights.
According to a UNESCO world survey, at the primary level of enrolment, Iran has the highest female to male ratio among all other sovereign nations, with a female to male ratio of 1.22 : 1.00.[142] By 1999, Iran had 140 female publishers, enough to hold an exhibition of books and magazines published by women.[143] As of 2005, 65% of Iran's university students and 43% of its salaried workers were women.[144] and as of early 2007 nearly 70% of Iran's science and engineering students are women.[145] This has led to many female school and university graduates being under-utilized. This has started to have an effect on Iranian society and was a contributing factor in protests by Iranian youth in over the past decades.
In recent decades, Iranian women have had a significant presence in Iran'sscientific movement,art movement,literary new wave and contemporaryIranian cinema. Women account for 60% of all students in the natural sciences, including one in five PhD students.[146]
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From the humblebrick, to thewindmill, Persians have mixed creativity with art and offered the world numerous contributions.[147][148] What follows is a list of just a few examples of the cultural contributions ofGreater Iran.
Persian cuisine is characterized by the use of lime and saffron, the blend of meats with fruits and nuts, a unique way of cooking rice, and Iranian hospitality. Food is delicate in flavour and appearance, heavy in meat, dairy, and herbs, and not hot or spicy. An emphasis on sour and sweet is found within this cuisine. Many recipes date back to ancient times; Iran's historical contacts have assisted in the exchange of ingredients, flavours, textures, and styles with various cultures ranging from the Mediterranean Sea region to China, some of whom retain these influences today.
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Persian cuisine is characterized by the use of lime and saffron, the blend of meats with fruits and nuts, a unique way of cooking rice, and Iranian hospitality. Food is subtly spiced, delicate in flavour and appearance, and not typically hot or spicy. Many recipes date back to ancient times; Iran's historical contacts have assisted in the exchange of ingredients, flavours, textures, and styles with various cultures ranging from the Mediterranean Sea region to China, some of whom retain these influences today.
The ancient tradition has transformed over time from a simple bonfire to the use of firecrackers ...
... people in Mazandaran province celebrate Tirgan.
... Tirgan called tir mā sizeŝu (thirteen night of Tir) is still held in Mazandaran.
... people in Mazandaran province celebrate Tirgan.
Tirgan, is a joyous celebration of water in the height of summer, ...
... , Tirgan (thanksgiving for water), ...
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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