163 Iran Culture Facts Trivia About The Persian Country

Iran also called the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in southwest Asia that has Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Armenia on the north, Afghanistan and Pakistan on the east, and Iraq and Turkey on the west.The culture and history of Iran are immense and most of the credit for this goes to the various different ethnicities in the country, in addition to Persians. Iran holds an important position when it comes to the world economy and international energy security due to the presence of large reserves of natural gas and petroleum in Iran.The culture in Iran starts with the language the Iranians speak, which is Farsi, also called Persian. It is one of the most prominent languages in the Middle East and nearby extended regions. Iranian culture is also one of the oldest in the Middle East region and the culture of Iran has influenced many other countries nearby like Russia, Greece, Macedonia, some parts of Asia, and the Arabian peninsula. Much of the population of Iranian people practice Islam and the religion drives most of the laws, economic, political, and cultural aspects of the country. Muslims are dominant in the country.There is no culture without family and that is a social structure Iranians believe in. In Iranian culture, family matters are most important and all responsibilities related to family are always taken seriously. The culture is a little different at times than the western counterparts as a person cannot ask about the wife of another Iranian or any other female relatives; unless you know the family or person well. Females are protected in the family at all times. It does sometimes come in the way of equality though. Weddings are conducted in two stages. The first is the legal aspect where the bride and groom sign a marriage contract, mostly at the bride’s house. The second stage is when the main feast and celebrations take place.Iran is also known for its art and architecture and the great heritage is visible in all the monuments, architecture, calligraphy, paintings, and poetry. The great heritage of the Persian culture has been translated into many different languages and this can be seen in the cultures of Iraq and many other countries. The Iranian poetries have influenced contemporary literature to the fullest. There is an Iranian writer named Houshang Moradi-Kermani who is the most translated writer from Iran and he is also the most famous modern Iranian writer. Even Iranian films are very much appreciated all over the world and have got much critical acclaim. In the past 10 years, Iranian films have boomed worldwide and have won around 300 international awards. Majid Majidi, Abbas Kiarostami, and Asghar Farhadi are some of the most known Persian directors from Iran.There is no culture for the Iranians without wood rug weaving and silk. Persian rugs are considered the most beautiful all around the globe and are imported a lot. You will see Persian rugs in rich households and royal houses all over. Iran itself produces more carpets and rugs than all other countries combined.Culture for Iranians includes saying ‘Salaam Alaykum’ whenever you greet them. You can also say salaam which means peace. There will always be separate social interactions between males and females as that is their culture. You will probably converse with the same sex at one point in time. Iranians are very punctual and they expect the same from you. As we discussed already, family is everything in Iran. You should greet the elders first, before wishing others. Before conducting business, try to build a personal relationship with the people of Iran. They love doing business with someone they know and relate with. The dressing is always conservative in most of the Arab states and the Persian country. Learn some Iranian customs as it will make them more comfortable with you.Strong beliefs in religion have always been part of the lives of all Iranians for thousands of years. Iran is filled with a Muslim population and almost all people in Iran today follow Islam. Islam is the central region in the Persian country. With a long history of scholarship, Iran has created a history of the culture of literature, art, music, poetry, architecture, and cuisine. Influential writings have been found by ancient Iranians which have helped medicine and philosophy. Also, an Iranian mathematician invented algebra!If you enjoy this article, why not also read about Iranian government facts and Iranian history facts here on Kidadl?Fun Facts About Iran’s CultureThe culture of Iran is one of the oldest in the world, filled with religion and laws that guide the Persian people. Persian language or Farsi is the official language of the country of Iran and most people living in Iran are Muslims.Iran has managed to influence many different countries due to its geographical position including Asia and Russia. The cultural elasticity present in Iran is said to be the reason for the Persian spirit.The art heritage of Iran in world history is commendable and has many aspects in it. Painting, architecture, weaving, poetry, metalwork, calligraphy, and stonemasonry all fall under the art heritage of Iran. The art of Iran has gone through many changes in history and there was a drastic change when the Islamic era began in the country. Before the Arab conquest, Zoroastrianism was the main religion practiced in the country. After the Arab conquest, however, the situation changed and culture, philosophy, and art had some noticeable changes.Now when it comes to modern culture, the rugs of the Persian Empire have propelled the country’s name all over the world. We also cannot discuss modern culture without speaking about cinema. Iranian cinema is talked about all over the world and has even won around 300 international awards in the last 10 years. The cinema is still growing in Iran and is celebrated all over the world.The game of Polo originated within the past Iranian society and was frequently seen everywhere in the nation until the revolution of 1979 where it became associated with the monarchy. It continues to be played, but only in rural regions and discreetly. Recently, as of 2005, it has been acquiring an increasingly higher profile.The music of the Persian Empire also has a rich history and many cultures have taken musical cues from Iranian society.Additionally, it is easy for Iranian women to get degrees.The geography also helps as Iran is divided from its neighbors in the west by high and rugged mountains that create a barrier. There is a barren, salty desert in the eastern region, while a narrow and fertile strip covers the Caspian Sea. On the south side, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman are present.Historical Facts About Iran’s CultureAs we have already learned that the Iranian nation is home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, it is natural that the culture of Persians is associated with history so much.Iran had the most powerful empire in 500 BC, however, there were a lot of conquerors and corrupt kings that prevailed in the country. All of these kings and conquerors have influenced the culture of Iran. During the rule of Cyrus the Great, the Zoroastrian religion prevailed in the country. He was one of the most beloved rulers of the country. During the Muslim conquest of 651 AD, all were forced to convert to Islam and hence we see so many influences of Islam in the culture of Iran. Around the 15-17th century, the next big influence was the sect of Shia Islam.Fast forward to today, Iran is now considered the favorite pilgrimage site for most Muslims all over the world. It mostly involves Shia Islam followers. You will see Arabs coming through to pray in Iran, which is very common. Other Muslim people also arrive in the country to get some of the famous Iranian hospitality. Other than this, many international travelers come to this place for its food, topography, culture, art, and many more attractions.The Persian people are one of the Iranian ethnic groups found in the country. This ethnic group makes up more than half of the population of Iran today.Facts About Religions In IranZoroastrianism was the main religion for a millennium in Iran. It only changed after the Arab conquest.Around 89% of people living in Iran are now Shia and 9% are Sunni. It is quite opposite of other places in the Middle East. The largest group of non-Muslim people living in Iran are followers of the Baha’i faith. They are scattered across Iran, however, large populations are still seen in Tehran.There are also many Christians in the country with around 250,000 Armenians, a small number of Roman Catholics, around 32,000 Assyrians, Anglican, and Protestant Iranians. They were probably converted during the 19th and 20th centuries. Judaism is also seen in Iran and is officially recognized.You can easily find Lur people found in the western and southwestern parts of Iran. Lurs constitute 6% of the total population of Iran. There are also Shi’a Muslims that live in the Fars Province, Khuzestan, and Isfahan.Facts About Iranian FoodIranian food also has a rich history and Iran’s population thrives on this.There are countless traditional tea-houses located all over Iran. Each province of Iran presents this cultural tradition in its own way. There are some things that will be common in all traditional tea-houses across the country like the strong tea (chai) and ghalyan hookah. Steam-boiled fava beans with vinegar and salt and some pastries and desserts are common in all tea-houses. Some tea-houses also serve kebabs and other full-meal options.The Iranian population is fond of Iranian cuisine, and why not, it has many years of history associated. Bread is the most important and most used food in Iran. There are many options of bread with the most common being nan and hamir. These are baked in large clay ovens, called tenurs. The cuisine in Iran also has a lot of products made with dairy. Yogurt (mast) is special for Iranians with its special fermentation process. The mast is also used to make soup and also helps in the production of oil. Iranians also love some rice items. A few popular rice dishes include boiled rice with vegetables, meats, and seasonings. The names of the rice dishes are chelo-khoresh, chelo-kebab, shish kebab with rice, meatballs with rice, rice with lamb, and kofte.Iranian cuisine is incomplete without its sweets. Baklava is one of the most famous ones and is made with cardamom, almonds, and egg yolks. The sweets in Iran use honey, lime juice, cinnamon, and sprouted wheat grain. Sherbet sharbat-portugal is a dessert juice very famous in Iran and is made with a mixture of orange juice and orange peel boiled in thin sugar syrup and rose water that is diluted. However, like all Middle Eastern countries, the most loved drink will always be kakhve-khana or tea without milk.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 163 Iran culture facts: trivia about the Persian country, then why not take a look at Iran facts or Malta facts.