Culture

Safavid era painting kept at The Grand Shah Abbas Caravanserai Hotel in Isfahan
Safavid era painting kept at The Grand Shah Abbas Caravanserai Hotel in Isfahan

To best understand Iran and its people, one must first attempt to acquire an understanding of its culture. It is in the study of this area where the Iranian identity optimally expresses itself. Hence the first sentence of prominent Iranologist Richard Nelson Frye's latest book on Iran reads:

"Iran's glory has always been its culture." [1]

Iranians were not only open to other cultures, but freely adapted to all they found useful. Thus an eclectic cultural elasticity has been said to be one of the key defining characteristics of the Persian spirit and a clue to its historic longevity.[2] Furthermore, Iran's culture has manifested itself in several facets throughout the history of Iran as well as that of Central Asia.

The article uses the words Persian and Iranian interchangeably, sometimes referring to the language and its speakers, and other times referring to the name of pre-20th century Iran, a nomenclature which survives from western explorers and orientalists. Both are not the same however, and the cultures of the peoples of Greater

Sports

  • The game of Polo originated with Iranian tribes in ancient times and was regularly seen throughout the country until the revolution of 1979 where 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 acquiring an increasingly higher profile. In March 2006, there was a highly publicised tournament and all significant matches are now televised.
  • The Iranian Zoor Khaneh

Women in Persian culture

In the tales of the 1001 Nights, it is a woman, Scheherazade, who is the protagonist and heroine of the frame tale.

Traditional important days

Iranians celebrate the following days based on a Solar calendar, in addition to important religious days of Islamic and Shia calendars, which are based on a lunar calendar.

  • Nowruz (Iranian New Year) - Starts from 21 March
  • Sizdah be dar (Nature Day)
  • Jashn-e-Tirgan (Water Festival)
  • Jashn-e-Sadeh (Fire Festival)
  • Jashn-e-Mehregan (Autumn Festival)
  • Shab-e-Yalda (Winter Feast)
  • Charshanbeh Suri

References

  1. ^ Greater Iran, Mazda Publishers, 2005. ISBN 1568591772 xi
  2. ^ Milani, A. Lost Wisdom. 2004.ISBN 0934211906 p.15

Further reading

  • Michael C. Hillman. Iranian Culture. 1990. University Press of America. ISBN 081917694X
  • George Ghevarghese Joseph.The Crest of the Peacock: The Non-European Roots of Mathematics. July 2000. Princeton U Press.

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