Saturday, April 21, 2007

Yazd: The Sun of Iran

Yezd is one of the most ancient and historic cities in Iran and a centre of Zoroastrian culture Yazd is situated at the Dasht-e Kavir desert and the Dasht-e Lut desert. Because of its desert surroundings, Yazd is an architecturally unique city. It is also known in Iran for the high quality handicrafts, especially silk weaving, and its sweets shops.


The climate is very dry, with cold winters and hot summers. The temperature tends to fluctuate dramatically, even between night and day, but especially summer to winter. Temperatures of 40 °C in the summer and -20 °C in the winter have been recorded.

Because of its climate, it has one of the largest networks of qanats in the world, and Yazdi qanat makers are considered the most skilled in Iran. To deal with the extremely hot summers, many old buildings in Yazd have magnificent windcatchers(Badgir) and large underground areas. The city is also home to prime examples of yakhchals, the latter of which were used to store ice retrieved from glaciers the nearby mountains.



History


The city has a 3000 year long history, dating back to the time of the Median empire, when it was known as Ysatis (or Issatis). The present city name, however, may have been derived from Yazdegerd I, a Sassanid ruler. The city was definitely a Zoroastrian centre during Sassanid times. After the Islamic conquest of Persia, many Zoroastrians fled to Yazd from neighbouring provinces. The city remained Zoroastrian even after the conquest by paying a levy, and only gradually did Islam come to be the dominant religion in the city.





Amirchaghmagh also is another magnificent ancient place in yazd.It has been established by Amir Jalaledin chaghmagh and his wife, fatema khatoon in eight century Hejri.Amirchaghmagh is set of Mosque,Square, Bathroom and Qanat. Every year lots of people all around Iran and even the entire world are interested to visit Yazd.







The Friday (or Congregation) Mosque, the greatest architectural is one of ancient place. During the Qajar dynasty (18th Century AD) it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.

Jame Mosque (Friday Mosque) is a mosque in Yazd, Yazd Province of Iran.
The 12th century mosque is still in use today. and is one of the outstanding 14th century buildings of Iran .


People of Yazd are very kind and hospitable. Theirs accent is very sweet and lovely. They work very hard and attempt to achieve money on an honest way without any cheat. There is a considerable ceramics and construction materials industry and unique confectionery and elry industries. The most popular souvenirs of Yazd is its sweets made in the city, such as Baghlava, ghotab and pashmak.


Monday, April 16, 2007

The Iranian's custom of Norooz

Koorosh is the first one who announced this day as Norooz
Norooz and its magnificent ceremony has past the way 3000 years to have receive us.The oldest nation ceremony in the world which has been immortal. The Iranian culture is continued. These ceremonies in these countries are not important deferent with previous 3000years old and to this reason it is a cultural unity element in Iranian. Norooze is a suitable and good time to cleaning soul from bad think and ending enemies through revisiting.


The Iranian New Year celebration or Norooz is the first day of spring.Norooz celebration is symbolic representation of two ancient concept Good and Evil. Iraninans have the custom of welcoming the New Year by cleaning every part of the house, dusting furniture and washing carpets. When the clock strikes New Year, all of members of the family gathered around the Norooz table and Haftsin.The family begins the New Year with a prayer for health, happiness. One the New Year’s Day families dress in their new cloths and start Norooz visiting the elders of family, then the rest of their relatives and finally their friends. Children receive presents and sweets, special meals and Ajil. The New Year's day traditional meal is called Sabzi Polo .It is served with fish for lunch Kookoo sabzi is traditional meal for dinner at New Year.


A major part of New Year rituals is setting the Haft Seen with seven specific items. Haft sin or seven’s ‘S’s is a major tradition of Norooz. The Haft Sin tables in clouds seven items that start with the letter sin .These are symbol of something. Many people attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sin table as they can. The Haft Sin items such as Sabzeh like wheat, barley or lentil is symbol of rebirth, Samanu symbol of affluence, Sengjed is symbol of love, Sir or garlic is symbol of medicine, Sib or apple is symbol of beauty and health,Somaq is symbol of sunrise, Serkeh or vinegar is symble of age and pationce. Another thing also is on the table like Quran, mirror, lit candle, decorated eggs.

Sizdah bedar

Sizdah bedar celebrations stem from the ancient Persians' belief that the twelve constellations in the Zodiac controlled the months of the year, and each ruled the earth for a thousand years at the end of which the sky and earth collapsed in chaos. Hence Norouz lasts twelve days and the thirteenth day represents the time of chaos when families put order aside and avoid the bad luck associated with the number thirteen by going outdoors and having picnics and parties.

http://www.wikipedi.com/

On the thirteenth day is spent mostly outdoors. people leave their home to go to the park and having picnics and parties.At the end of the celebrations on this day, the Sabzeh grown for the Haftsin which is symbol of all sickness and bad luck is thrown.