Customs and Traditions

Iran’s Customs in Photos: Bakhtiari Wedding

The colourful wedding parties of Bakhtiari nomads begin at the end of harvest season in the tribal areas of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, south-western Iran.

Iranian People Celebrate Yalda Night Together

Iranian people from all walks of life celebrated on Saturday night one of the most ancient Persian celebrations called Yalda Night, the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Iranian Korsi Brings Family Members Together on Yalda Night

One of the Iranian traditions going back generations is for family members to sit around a korsi on Yalda night.

Popular, Iconic Dishes of Yalda Night in Iran

Yalda dinner, a meal traditionally eaten at the winter solstice each December, forms a significant part of gatherings held to celebrate “Shab-e Yalda” (the longest night of the year) in Iran. Let’s find more about various Yalda dishes in different parts of the country.

Pastak & Shawl Weaving; Ancient Art of Iran’s Kurdistan

Shawl and Pastak weaving is one of the oldest handicrafts in Kurdistan province, especially the border city of Baneh. These shawls are woven with the wool of a particular goat.

Pomegranate Harvest Season Celebrated in Iran’s Yazd

In many Zoroastrian-majority villages of Iran, including those in Roodbar, Qazvin, Gilan, Kurdistan, and Isfahan, people celebrate the arrival of autumn and its mythical fruit with festivities such as the pomegranate harvest celebration.

Iranian Family Making ‘Alamat’ for Generations

Manufacturing Alamat, a symbolic banner made of metal used in Muharram mourning rituals, has become a family profession for the Hosseinis in downtown Tehran.

Local Women Hold ‘Hovay Hovay’ Mourning Ritual in Muharram

Women in the southwestern Iranian province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province have their own special ways of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the third Shiite Imam, in the lunar month of Muharram.

Iran: The Land of Curious Villages

There are many villages in Iran which are known for being unusual in some ways.

Tehran Hosting Exhibition of Villagers, Nomads’ Capabilities

The forth Exhibition of Iranian Villagers and Nomads’ Capabilities is currently underway at Tehran International Permanent Fairground.

Staged Photos Depict Hard-to-Believe Iranian Myths

Iranian people, especially those of Bakhtiari tribe, express their insights, viewpoints, and ideas about life by creating their own characters, myths and motifs.

People in Western Iran Hold Midsummer Celebrations

The midsummer is a special day annually celebrated in many parts of Iran including in Zardui village in the city of Paveh in Kermanshah province, western Iran.

Two Iranian Women Break Taboo against Female Singing

Shamshuk and Zobeideh are two Iranian women artists from the south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan who have managed to break a long-time taboo against women’s singing.

First Festival of Kurdish Fashion, Costumes Held in Iran

The first regional festival and exhibition of Kurdish Fashion and Clothing has been held in Khosro Abad Mansion of Sanandaj in Iran’s Kurdistan province.

Traditional ‘Locho’ Wrestling Contest Held in Mazandaran

Locho wrestling is a traditional field of Pahlavani sports practiced in the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran.

Yazdi Coffee; Delicate Drink Indigenous to Central Iran

Yazdi Coffee is a traditional type of coffee made in the Iranian city of Yazd. It is a very tasty drink thanks to the long cooking time and the use of cardamom, rosewater and rock candy in its preparation.

Sekanjabin Syrup; A Traditional Persian Drink for Hot Seasons

Sekanjabin, a traditional Iranian syrup made up of honey and vinegar, turns into a wonderful tasty drink when combined with cucumber, especially in hot seasons.

400-Year-Old Milking Ritual Still Observed in Central Iran

An ancient spiritual ritual named Shirdoushan (milking) is still held annually in central Iran after over four centuries.

Iranian Lady Keeping Decades-Old Legacy Alive

Shahrbanoo is an Iranian woman who has managed to preserve the legacy of her ancestors in the town of Sorkheh in the east-central Iranian province of Semnan, which is one of the hubs of weaving in Iran.

Strange Iranian Dishes One Must Try before Death

Iran is a vast country with a wide range of subcultures, tastes, and food diversity, so much so that sometimes the taste of some of these foods and their ingredients seem strange even to the Iranian people themselves.

Chai-Churak: Special Bread Zanjanis Bake in Ramadan

Chai-churak, or tea-bread in local language, is a small bread made of flour, water, milk, sugar, eggs, oil and sesame seeds.

Ramadan Rituals in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan

Sistan and Baluchestan province in south-eastern Iran annually turns into the scene of several theatrical rituals during the holy month of Ramadan, some of which date back to 13 centuries ago.

Nostalgic Traditions of Iran Attract German Girl

A young German girl is doing research into Iranian traditions and nostalgic practices which are slipping into oblivion.

Iranian Villager Establishes Museum of Agriculture

An old Iranian villager has collected various agricultural instruments to establish a museum at his home.

Iran’s Less Seen Face on Display in France’s Silk Road Exhibition

The city of Aubin in southern France is hosting the second Silk Road Exhibition with a focus on countries like Iran and Uzbekistan.

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