Iran Rose Water Festival in Kashan Kashan, located on Iran Classic Route, is one of Iran's five major tourist destinations. It is not only home to invaluable historical and cultural attractions, including Tangible and Intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage, but also festivals and activities. Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a popular and famous festival celebrated annually in May in Iran. Being made from the Damask rose (also called Mohammadi rose in Iran), rose water is an aromatic tonic liquid. The cultivation of Mohammadi roses in Iran dates back to around 7,000 years ago; however, the rose water festivals have been feasted since 1,000 years ago. The early rose water was made by rose distillation, but over the years, this procedure continued with the distillation of Damask roses (Mohammadi roses) as well. Although the ancient method of rose water making has changed over time, it has still retained its originality. There were no varieties of methods in the past, but new fashions have been generated for rosewater making due to the current technological developments. It is worth mentioning that special equipment (congruous to the regional climate), used in the traditional method, is still applied by those who prefer to make rose water in the old manner. festival in Iran. Qamsar, located 30 km south of Kashan, is another city well-known for the rosewater festival. Although the name Golab (Rosewater) is more closely tied to Qamsar, other cities in the Kashan district, such as Niyasar, are also professional in this field. It should be mentioned that not only Iranian people come to visit this festival, but also people from all over the world are interested in it. So, Kashan is a host to many tourists every year for the Rosewater festival. This experience is unique since it is a festival full of
Iran Rose Water Festival in Kashan Kashan, located on Iran Classic Route, is one of Iran’s five major tourist destinations. It is not only home to invaluable historical and cultural attractions, including Tangible and Intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage, but also festivals and activities. Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a popular and famous festival celebrated
Chaharshanbe Suri Like other ancient nations, Iranians have their festivals and traditions. One of these festivities is called Chaharshanbe Suri. This impressive festival is one of the most popular celebrations among Iranians. Chaharshanbeh Suri goes back 1700 years BC and is held on the last Wednesday before Nowrouz, (New Year). To be more precise, this festival feasts on the evening of the last Tuesday of the year and is a mixture of great and little traditions. Chaharshanbeh Suri is also the fire dance to welcome spring. "Chaharshanbeh Souri" gets made from two words. ،The first is a day of the week, (Chaharshanbe is Wednesday), and the other, (Suri), means redness. Fire has been respected not only in ancient Iran but also among Indians, Europeans, and other cultures. The ancient Iranians believed in the power of purification by fire. This belief was so strong that to prove a person's innocence of any wrongdoing, the person had to cross a blazing fire. An example of this is Siavash's character in the Shahnameh, (the epic poem), by Ferdowsi, (the Persian poet and author), who passed through fire to prove his innocence. The most important and common rituals related to Chaharshanbe Suri are as follows: Jumping over the fire The main tradition in Chaharshanbe Suri is to make a bonfire, set fire to it in the evening and read the poem "My yellowness for you, your redness for me" (in Persian «زردی من از تو، سرخی تو از من») when jumping over it. This poem has been a prayer that Iranians have long been singing to fire, asking for it to put an end to diseases, boredom, and the worries of the past year to start the New Year afresh with happiness and vitality. Kuzeh Shekani (Breaking the Jug) In many cities,
Chaharshanbe Suri Like other ancient nations, Iranians have their festivals and traditions. One of these festivities is called Chaharshanbe Suri. This impressive festival is one of the most popular celebrations among Iranians. Chaharshanbeh Suri goes back 1700 years BC and is held on the last Wednesday before Nowrouz, (New Year). To be more precise, this
Yalda Night Yalda is the traditional Iranian celebration of the winter solstice – the longest night of the year. Observed widely throughout Iran’s history stretching back into pre-Zoroastrian times, Yalda Night evolved into a treasured festival bringing the family together and continues to be practiced by Iranians around the world. The ritual symbolizes the rebirth of light following the darkest night, and mythologically speaking, represents a critical moment in the eternal battle of Ahuramazada (light/ virtue/ existence) over Ahriman (dark/ evil/ nonexistence). On this cosmically important night, family members gather together in the home of the family elder (typically grandparents, parents, or great aunts and uncles) to share sweets, red fruits (including pomegranate, watermelon, and persimmon), and a mix of candied and roasted nuts. Sometimes, Persian herbed rice with fish is steamed for dinner. In the old days, fruits were set on a korsi – a low table with a heating source underneath – and the family would huddle under a thick blanket to munch on treats and tell stories. The use of the korsi diminished as modern heating systems became common in Iranian homes, but the feeling of togetherness survives in various forms. Some choose to eschew the traditional ceremony and instead gather with close friends for a music-fueled dance party. Whatever the feast, the one ever-present element is the cherished poetry of Hafez, the 14th-century Iranian poet, and mystic, whose words, even 700 years later, are still revered as a kind of oracle by all generations. Similar to fortune-telling with a side of mysticism, each family member puts their hand on the edge of the book, closes their eyes as they make a wish, and opens up a random page. Every family has a dedicated reader, who interprets the selected poem to suit the details of the wisher’s life. It
Yalda Night Yalda is the traditional Iranian celebration of the winter solstice – the longest night of the year. Observed widely throughout Iran’s history stretching back into pre-Zoroastrian times, Yalda Night evolved into a treasured festival bringing the family together and continues to be practiced by Iranians around the world. The ritual symbolizes the rebirth
