Tag Archive | Islam

The colourful ladies of Abyaneh

Apr27

I am by nature an early riser but it has to be something pretty special to coax me out of my bed at 4.00am and I was hoping that today wouldn’t disappoint as I rolled out of bed and into the shower this morning. We were off to Abyaneh, a famous Iranian “historic village” then skirting the central desert via Natanz to Kashan. I was not to be disappointed.

Abyaneh is a remote settlement nestled high in the Karkas mountains and it’s red. The houses are built from the red-ochre coloured mud which gives them their distinct appearance and they butt into the steep slopes so that there are no back gardens and the emphasis is very much on the house fronts. We didn’t get to see inside a house but apparently there are no stairs becuase they use the natural slope of the mountain to climb between stories.

Most of the original carved wooden doors remain intact and when you look closely you will see that most doors have two knockers-one for men the other for women. This enables the person indoors to tell by the knock whether the visitor is a man or a woman (rarely is the “wrong” knocker used).

Unusually for an Islamic community, women enjoy equal rights with men and traditionally this has meant that many have not married until they are at least thrity and no more than three children are born to a family. Perhaps this emancipation is why the ladies of Abyaneh are famous for their bright coloured clothes an unusual feature for Islamic women and something which the colourful ladies of Abyaneh have resisted despite several attempts by the government to change this.

Sadly most of the houses are deserted now and the younger villagers have moved away, many abroad. Tourists flock in droves to see the village and its remaining residents, especially the colourful ladies and whilst when we arrived at 7.30am there were few other visitors by the time we left at 10.30am hundreds more had arrived and there was nowhere to park.  It was clearly good planning to get up at 4.00am and I was pleased that we had done so.

Some of the ladies are more willing to be photographed than others and I always asked before taking a photo respecting those who did not want to be. I fully understand their reluctance. At best it’s a nuisance, but it can be invasive and inappropriate so asking first is a must even if you don’t like the answer. One particularly bright and bubbly lady happily posed for photographs and even insisted that we join her on some of our pictures.  Her enthusiasm became clear when she asked if we could send the pictures by email to her daughter who lives in Europe! I had to laugh but gladly we wrote down the email address and tonight I will be sending her pictures to someone, somewhere in Italy!

 Other attractions in the village include the Congregational Mosque with a fabulous inlaid door. Sadly the mosque was closed so I was unable to see the painted ceiling which I had read about. The mausoleum ( “Holly Shrine” per the road sign) is also worth a visit if only for the views across the mountains from the verandah and its blue mosaic cone roof also shines out amongst the mass of red.

Abyaneh is an interesting place to while away a few hours and I was surprised to learn that we had been there for three hours. I was sad to leave without seeing more of the buildings further up the hill but it was getting very busy and we had places to go and things to see in Kashan.

Fin Gardens.

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The Wedding Day-the art of marriage

Feb17

Art of Marriage
by Wilfred A. Peterson

The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding, and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is being the right partner.

 

Valentine’s Day in Iran

Feb14

Oh dear, it looks like Valentine’s Day is no more here in Iran. Shops in Iran have been banned from selling Valentine cards and gifts as the traditional lovers’ day gains increasing popularity in the Islamic republic

In the run-up to Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 the printing works owners’ union issued a directive banning the printing and distribution of any goods promoting this day. This includes posters, boxes and cards emblazoned with hearts or half-hearts, red roses and any activities promoting Valentine’s Day.The backlash in the Islamic Republic is part of a drive against the spread of Western culture.

What a shame, but it’s quite nice to avoid the over-commercialisation of such celebrations and get back to the true meaning of what Valentine’s Day is all about. You can tell someone you love them, and express your love very well without the need for cards, over-priced red roses and expensive dinners. So maybe here in Iran they have it right after all.

Happy Valentine’s Day! I love You!


Christmas in Iran

Nov28

Today, 28 November 2010, is the first Sunday in Advent. This is when Christians start the annual wait for the “coming” of Christ celebrated on Christmas Day. Children all over will have their Advent Calendars at the ready and will begin opening the doors on 1 December. For me, Advent is when I start thinking about Christmas, a good 2-3 months behind Mr Tesco.

In Iran too, the 1 December, marks the beginning if the “Little Fast” carried out by some of  the sizeable yet minority population of Christians for the 25 days leading up to Christmas Day known as “Little Feast”.  Christians in Iran include Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians who are mostly Armenian-Iranians and have their own religious rituals.  Although Iran is predominantly an Islamic nation, there are also some Moslems who celebrate Christmas as a non-religious festival. Christmas trees and decorations are bought, turkeys ordered and sometimes gifts are exchanged in the same way as we do here in the UK.

During the 25 day “Little Fast” which is meant to purify body and mind, Orthodox Christians follow a diet free of meat and dairy products only breaking their fast when Communion is received early on Christmas morning. To break their fast, the traditional dish of Harissa is eaten. This meal is also the national dish of Armenia, and like many recipes handed down from generation to generation, there will be regional variations. I have managed to find a recipe for the chicken and barley stew which sounds just the sort of meal perfect during the current big freeze! 

ArmenianHarissa.jpg

Armenian Harissa
Ingredients:
  • 1 whole chicken
  • 8 cups water
  • 2 cups whole wheat kernels, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tsp. salt, or to taste
  • cumin
  • paprika
  • butter
How to cook it
Rinse chicken and place in large pot with 8 cups water and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cook for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, with the pot partially covered until chicken is cooked.
Remove chicken from liquid; place on platter and allow to cool enough to handle. Discard skin, bones and fat. Shred chicken; cut into smaller pieces, if necessary.
Strain broth. Measure broth, and add enough water to make a total of 8 cups
Place broth in large pot. Add wheat, shredded chicken, and salt if necessary. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Remove any foam which rises to the surface.
Simmer on a very low heat, without stirring, covered, for about 4 hours
Beat vigorously with a sturdy, long-handled, wooden spoon, mashing the wheat and chicken until they resemble thick oatmeal. Adjust salt, if needed.
To serve: place in bowls. Add a pat of butter, if desired. Sprinkle with a dash of cumin or paprika to taste.

Iran-What do I wear?

Nov1

One of the concerns for Western women travelling to an Islamic country such as Iran is what to wear so that you respect the culture, but also keep cool in the mid-day heat which can reach 90+ degrees at certain times of the year. I did some research and found that loose clothing which hides the shape or form of your contours reaches your wrists and covers down to your ankles is recommended and is certainly obligatory for those visiting mosques. All this is in addition to a headscarf which must be worn at all times in public places. If however, you turn up at a mosque and you are considered to be inadequately modest, you will be offered a chadoor to wear during your visit. This is quite common for Western vistors and once inside the mosque, you will blend in with everyone else and any feelings of  self-consciousness will disappear very quickly.

I took plenty of scarves of all colours with me. It is not necessary to wear black although you will tend to attract attention if you go for the more adventurous designs. If you are fair-haired, or fair-skinned like me, also be prepared to be stared at in an inquisitive, polite way. It may take you a while to get used to but I never felt any malice or distain in those glances; merely curiosity.

Wearing a chadoor properly and for long periods however takes some practice and I quickly found that the best way for a novice to keep cool whilst dressing appropriately was to invest in a manteau. A manteau is a long, button-up coat-dress which can be worn on its own when hot, or over normal clothing when cooler. As it was 90+ degrees at times, I chose a black cotton version which was very simple and easy to wear. Mine cost a mere £9 and was THE bargain of my holiday.

 A manteau with headscarf is all you need as long as you cover your ankles with long skirt, trousers, leggings or dark tights/pop-socks. Could it be more simple?  Hurrah for the Manteau!