Marivan Customs

Iranian Customs in Kurdistan Iran

15 Top Iranian Customs and Traditions in Kurdistan Iran

Every country is featured with its culture and traditions. Having a very rich history and culture, there are plenty of original Iranian Cultures and Traditions which can be quite attractive and new for tourists and culture lovers. Except for the religious ceremonies, most of the rest belong to the pre-Islamic Iran and Zoroastrianism. Kurdistan is one of the western province of Iran. The cities of this province include Bane, Bijar, Dehgolan, Divandre, Sarvabad, Saqez, Sanandaj, Qorveh, Kamiyaran and Marivan. The festivals and rituals that are common among Kurds include religious, ethnic and ancient festivals that are rooted in the ancient beliefs of the people. Mire-Nowruz, Pir Shaliar ceremony and Kurdish dance are among the special customs of the people of Kurdistan. The Daf festival, the pomegranate festival and the native games festival are among the attractive festivals that are held in Kurdistan.

Kurdish Dance

Kurdish dance or Helperkê is as important and unique to Kurdish culture as Kurdish music. Almost all Kurdish dances are community dances, frequently with men and women dancing together. Most of the Kurdish dances are performed in the form of an incomplete circle, which consists of male and female dancers who have their hands tied together and are moving from left to right. The first person on the right side of the group with a handkerchief in his hand is responsible for directing and coordinating the movement of the rest of the dancers, and the speed, rhythm and passion of the dancers depends on his guidance. According to the occasion, Kurdish folk dances are divided into three categories: happiness dance, mourning dance and war dance.

Nowruz Festival

The most favorite festival in Iran is undoubtedly Nowruz (literally the new day). It’s the Iranian New Year celebrated at the beginning of the spring. The family gathers around Haft-Seen table and await the exact moment of the March Equinox to celebrate the New Year. Fireworks and Kurdish dance is one of the main rituals of Nowruz celebration in the Kurdistan. The people attend this celebration wearing colorful local clothes. Giving small gifts called Eydi to children, new brides and betrothed girls, cooking eggs and decorating them with onion peel or dyes, buying new clothes for mourning relatives, visiting relatives and friends especially elders, eating rice noodles on the first day of Nowruz are other customs of Kurdistan people in the Nowruz celebration. At the last Thursday of March, people go to the cemetery to the graves of their loved ones and recite al-Faatihah to their souls. In the past, among the Kurds, it was customary to blow on the skin of some slaughtered animals such as cows and sheep, and hang it up to dry. This was shaped like today's balloons and was sold in butchers on the last night of March. Setting up the Haft-Sin table in the distant past was not customary in the Kurdistan region, and it has become popular in Kurdistan since the Safavid era.

Chaharshanbeh Suri

Chaharshanbeh Suri or The Festival of Fire is the eve of the last Tuesday night of the solar year before Nowruz (the New Year). It is a special night for Iranians dating back to at least 1700 BC, during the early Zoroastrian era. At night people gather and burn the bush and jump over it to repel the evil and make the dreams come true. They sing “My yellow colour for you, your red colour for me” meaning that you take the fire’s heat and energy and give your negative energies to fire. Since people give all their bad energies and disease to the fire, the ashes are considered to be ominous. Iranians believe that by burning the bushes, all the bad vibes and disease goes away and it can be a good start for the new year.
In addition to lighting a fire and jumping over it, the ceremony of Chaharban-suri in Kurdistan includes other customs and rituals, such as: kuzeh-shekani, shal-andazi, falgoosh, burning espand and ghashogh-zani. Breaking an egg, throwing some onions, a few pairs of socks, some broken dishes and the scapegoatoft doll out of house are also done in chaharshanbeh-suri night. All of these are done in order to get away the evil eye from family members.

Kuzeh Shekani

Kuzeh Shekani | Breaking a Jug

People put some ashes of the fire as a symbol of misfortune, some salt as a symbol of the evil eye, and a coin as a symbol of indigence in a pottery pitcher. Then each family member would turn the pitcher three times around their heads to cast away the bad luck. The last one takes it to the rooftop and throws it to the alley as if all the misfortune, evil eye, and indigence go away with it. This is done on chaharshanbeh-suri, the last Tuesday night before New Year.

Spooning

Ghashogh Zani | Stirring the Spoons

The ritual of Ghashogh-Zani or spooning probably originates from the belief that the spirits of the dead return to the living on chaharshanbeh-suri, the last Tuesday night before New Year and visit the homes of the survivors in the form of people with their faces covered, and the living give a gift to commemorate them. In the spooning, young girls and boys take a spoon and a copper bowl with themselves and at night they go to the streets. They go in front of some houses and start stirring the spoon on the bowl. The landlords pour some chocolate, sweets, nuts or money into their bowls. Usually girls and boys pull a veil over their heads so that no one recognizes them. This way they made sure that if the spirit of their gone loved ones is among the youngsters at their door, they have given them their food and affection, showing them that they are together remembering them and sharing their night with them. This custom is similar to Halloween.

Eavesdropping

Falgoosh | Eavesdropping

Young girls who like to marry sooner, head to alleys and eavesdrop. They stand behind a wall and listen to the words of passers-by. In case they hear good stuff, it is believed that their wishes come true. If they hear sad things, their wishes may not come true. Standing for fortune telling is done on chaharshanbeh-suri, the last Tuesday night before New Year.

Shal Andazi

The word “Shal” refers to shawl in English and “Andazi” means throwing. People knot the shawls to make a long colorful one, then they go on the roof of the houses to throw their long shawl at the door of the houses. The house owner puts some chocolates, candies or money in the shawl. After pulling the shawl from the roof they interpret the upcoming year by what they found in the tied shawl. If they find bread in the shawl it means that their year will be full of blessings. If there are sweets in it their year would be full of happiness. If they find pomegranates in it they are most likely going to have lots of children in the future and walnut would mean they are going to have a long life. Almond and hazelnut would mean endurance and patience when facing difficulties. Raisins would mean a blessed year and silver coins would be a sign of a happy married life. It seems that Shaal Andazi was an indirect way for fortune telling that was held on the last Tuesday before the Persian New Year.

Yalda Night

Yalda night or winter solstice is the longest night of the year and is respected in many countries. The history of Shab-e Yalda dates back to Zoroastrian tradition when the darkest and longest night of the year was considered an unfavorable date and so, people needed to protect themselves from evil. They do that by gathering together and spend this longest night with each other. It is estimated the antiquity of this ceremony to be more than 7000 years. Every year, Iranian people celebrate Yalda night by gathering together, eating, drinking and reading poetry until after midnight. This Iranian festival, is celebrated every year on the night of December 21. Eating watermelon, pomegranate and nuts, reading Hafez's poetry and Shahnameh, making a “Fal” with Hafez book and using red color in the design of the Yalda table are some of the features of this celebration. Yalda night in Kurdistan province is called "Sho Cheleh" or "Sho Zamsan" (winter night). On this night, in addition to Hafaz and Shahnameh reading, the people also read the Saadi's Golestan, Saadi's Bostan, Nizami's Iskandarnameh books. The elders tell stories and memories to the children. In addition to pomegranates and watermelons, sour melon or "Kalak Toresh" also is eaten on Yalda's night, after dinner. Types of dumplings are common dishes of Kurds on Yalda night.

Pir Shalyar Ceremony

The festival of Pir Shalyar is an old traditional ceremony in Kordestan province, Iran, which is held in the 40th day of winter. This festival is the symbolic wedding ceremony of Pir Shaliar. The story of the legendary man named Pir Shaliar goes back hundreds of years ago. The deaf and mute daughter of the ruler of Bukhara was brought to the Pir Shaliar to be cured. Miraculously, she got her health, so, she married the Pir Shaliar upon the promise of her father. It is believed that their wedding took place in Oraman village of Kurdistan and their wedding anniversary is celebrated every year in the most magnificent way by the people of Kurdistan. This ceremony is accompanied by staying at night, making a feast, making sacrifices, Sufi dance and praying.

Mire-Nowruz

One of the Kurdish customs during Nowruz is the Mire-Nowruz ceremony, which is a happy and fun program. Mire-Nowruz means the prince of the New Year and in this ceremony, a person from among the people is chosen to be the Mire-Nowruz. He sits on the throne, and a bunch of other people become his ministers, mirzas, soldiers, and clown. Mire-Nowruz issues strange orders and anyone who does not comply is punished. The minister solves people's problems. Mirza writes the Mire-Nowruz's orders. The clown wears a sheepskin dress, hangs bells in his community, puts on a turban and puts on funny shows.

The Bride of the Rain

Bowkeh Baraneh | Rain Bride

The beautiful ritual of asking for rain, one of the old traditions of Iran, was nominated for UNESCO world registration as an intangible heritage in 2014. This ritual is held in the Kurdistan region under the title of "Bowkeh Baraneh" (Rain Bride) during drought. Bowkeh Baraneh (Lady of the Waters) is the name of a cross-shaped wooden doll that is covered with cloths of happy colors. This doll is a symbol to ward off the scourge of drought. Bokebarani ceremony is held with the participation of children, especially girls, in groups. Groups of 15 to 20 children carry Bowkeh-Baraneh doll in the streets of the village and enter the yard by knocking on the doors of the houses and start singing a beautiful poem together. One of the family members distributes gifts such as eggs, money, or walnuts among the children, then pours some water on the Bowkeh-Baraneh. As the Bowkeh Baraneh goes to each house, the children of that house also join the caravan of Bowkeh Baraneh. The Bowkeh Baraneh caravan then goes to the village mosque, or one of the religious places, and everyone prays together for rain, and finally they share the Bowkeh Baraneh gifts among themselves. The Bowkeh Baraneh has a special respect during his movement and even after the end of this ritual, the cloths and dragonflies given to him are not taken away by anyone. They are kept standing in a place of him until the rain falls. Researchers consider this wooden doll and this ancient ritual to be a symbol of Anahita (the goddess of waters) and attribute the ceremony to the time of Zoroaster.

Daf Festival

Daf is one of the mystical instruments that has a high status among Kurdish people and this instrument is played in religious and mystical ceremonies. The people of Kurdistan display beautiful daf music on various occasions such as the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, Eid al-Fitr, Nowruz, reciting the birth and Pir Shaliar ceremony. Simultaneously with the beginning of the month of Rabi-ul-Awl, in mosques, khanqahs, takayas and other urban and rural places, the ritual of reciting the birth and playing Daf is held. The simultaneous performance of a thousand daf players is incredibly spectacular and attractive, and the people of this region perform it as beautifully as possible in the "Daf festival". In this festival, the people of Kurdistan, both men and women, wearing Kurdish clothes and holding a Daf in their hands, perform the original tunes of the Khanqah.

Pomegranate Festival

Every year, at the time of pomegranate harvesting, a pomegranate harvest thanksgiving ceremony is held in Oraman village of Kurdistan as beautifully as possible. Eye-catching pomegranates are displayed in decorated containers. Kurdish women participate in the festival with their beautiful local clothing, and the people of the village happily try to hold the ceremony. This festival will boost the tourism industry and the economic growth of the Kurdistan. Acquaintance with different types of pomegranate products, introduction of Kurdistan handicrafts and other agricultural products of this region are other goals of the festival.

Street Theater

Every year, the street theater festival is held with great splendor in the beautiful city of Marivan. This festival is held in line with the promotion of Iranian street theater and supporting the production of theatrical works for performance outside the usual stages. Strengthening hope and increasing social vitality, strengthening the motivation of empathy and social participation, creating an opportunity to exchange new experiences and theater knowledge among the country's artists are among the goals of this festival.

Native Games Festival

The international Native Games Festival, which is held every year in Marivan of Kurdistan province, hosts teams from Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. In this festival, the participating teams present some of their native and local games. The local games of Kurdistan include Zoran (local wrestling), Chokhan wrestling, stick-pulling, Qalang-gaz, Durpa, Haftsang, and Helapehreki. The beautiful performances of Kurdish dance along with Kurdish folklore music, the beautiful and colorful uniforms of the peoples of Iran and their musical instruments are among the attractions of this festival. The final ritual of this festival is held next to the beautiful lake of Zaribar.