Katherine

Four Iranian Tea Recipe

2009-02-11T11:09:00.013-08:00

Persian medicine is one of the ancient traditional medical sciences of the world which has been developed by Persian scholars from very early pre-Islamic ages until the physician and savant Ali Ebn-e-Sina (Avicenna) through the centuries.

Iran

's mountainous geography made the physicians pay a special attention to loads of herbal medicines in their profession. The boiled herbals always give a stronger result which in the general language of people is being called "Tea" or "Chai" or "Cha". Here I introduce four Iranian teas which has remained from the traditional Persian medicine. Each recipe gives you four cups of tea.

Saffron tea:

Saffron is extraordinarily expensive at $1000 a pound or 500grams. (No, I didn't make a mistake with the zeros). Why so pricey? Because saffron is manually picked from the reddish orange stamens of the crocus flower. It is incredibly labour and time intensive, and only grows in the dry heights which have cool winds and good sun. Additionally, it takes a football field's worth of saffron threads to make just a full hand! Iran is one of the main origins of saffron and supplies more than 80% of the world saffron.

For making a saffron tea you need to boil only a 1/2 tea spoon saffron (powder or threads) with four small cups of boiling water and drink it quickly after 3 minutes.
Saffron smell is wonderful and it has the natural endorphin. It is an activator and anti depression and makes blood pressure high and also being used for sexual disabilities. It is a very strong anti cancer and especially good for the weak people and kids. In a normal case you may drink this tea once a weak and having always a big smile.

Spearmint tea:

Spearmint plant grows in most of climates. The tea of this aromatic plant has an incredible and soothing effect on stomack ache and is widely used in herbal treatments for digestive problems, flatus and diarrhea. The current researches of the chemists show it is a possible treatment for balancing the hormone problems of hairy women.

Put a full hand green fresh spearmint leaves in an empty pot over the heat for five minutes. The heat makes it slightly steam and gives more aroma and colour later. Then add four cups of hot water and be patient and let it boil slowly for 30 minutes until it turns to a very light green. Spearmint tea is not bitter so try not to drink it with sweets. You can drink it everyday after the main meals. No caffeine and all safe.

Black cherry tea:

Iran is one of the main world sweet and sour cherry producers. Dark red cherry is an extremely strong anti cancer fruit and the source of vitamin A, B1, B2, C and iron. The small black sour cherry tea is a very good treatment for the lack of blood, reducing blood fat and blood pressure and losing weight.

Pick the sticks of one full cup of black sour cherries and boil it with four small cups of water for half an hour until it turns to a deep cardinal red. It tastes delicious and sour and you can drink it with candies. Especially if you naturally have a very low blood pressure, or as a woman you are in the special days of the month don't drink it a lot without sweets because it can cause vertigo.

Gol Gavzaban (Borage) tea:

Borage, the healthy herb loves sun and rich soil. Iran and a few Mediteranean countries of west Asia (Syria, Israel, Lebanon) are its origin. You may not believe the miracle like effect of borage flower tea or "Gol Gavzaban" on the nervous system until you have it for a while. Gol Gavzaban in Persian language is the small dried violet flower of borage plant which has a various use in healing stress, reducing anger and pressures of modern life.

Let four table spoon dried blue petals of Gol Gavzaban boil with four cups of water for 20-30 minutes. The result is a light yellowish gray liquid, not as clear as the green tea. You can add some lemon juice which makes it suddenly turns red!!! and then drink it with candies. Except relaxing effects of Gol Gavzaban tea, it helps to bring down fevers, and also helps with chest colds. This tea is 100% organic and very tonic for adrenal glands. It is not a long time that this tea has become so popular in Europe. You may try it too.

Sizdah Beh-Dar

2009-02-11T11:09:00.011-08:00

Spring of Iran

Sizdah Beh-dar, 13 Bedar (getting rid of thirteen) that often occurs in 1^st April is the Persian festival of the joy and solidarity celebrated on the 13^th Farvardin (13^th day of spring) on the last day of Norooz (the Persian new year vacations).

In the fables there was a moony king who ordered the soldiers to take the 1^st passer of the town in the sunshine of such a day and telling him from now he is the king. So he could live in the palace and orders what he wished until the sunset when the king ordered to kill the victim.

Some of the customs of Sizdah Bedar by Iranian families all over the world is leaving the house and going to picnic. You may not find easily an empty place outdoors and everywhere is full of people who are enjoying the beauty of blooms. Also, the families throw away Sabzeh (the grown wheat sprouts of the new year table, Haftsin) which is becoming yellow now, making the gold fish of Haftsin free to a pool or a river, knotting the blades of grass that means love and the bond between man and woman, eating lettuce and a local syrup called Sekanjebin and telling something unreal, a funny joke or telling a lie to the friends.

Sizdah Bedar is also known as the day of appreciating the nature and thanking the earth.

Norooz ,The Iranian new year

2009-02-11T11:09:00.009-08:00

"No-Rooz" (New-Day), the Iranian new year, is the oldest new year holiday of the world celebrated by people of Iran and it’s previous attached central Asian cultures. It starts in the first day of spring, the rebirth of the nature, which usually occurs on 20^th or 21th March (1^st of Farvardin in Persian calender).

According the first used calender in Mythraism way, Norooz dates back to 7030 years ago and in Zorastrian faith it is celebrated since 3746 years ago (2008 Gregorian calender). After Islamic era Iranians didn’t replace Norooz and their Aryan solar calender with the Arabic lunal one but adapting with new religion put some changes in counts of the years again while people of Iran with any religion and ethnic, have still kept celebrating Norooz every part of the world they live and have protected their ancient heritage infront of Greeks, Arabs, Mongols and any other foreigner invaders.

"Haft-Sin" is table clothed in the main room of the house and all members of the family gather around it before the moment of the new year happens. The following items are placed on it:

· Lighted candles : Represents the goodness and warmth of life. The number of candles is the same as members of the family and guests.

· Holly book : It depends on the religions of the Iranian societies living in Iran at present ; Avesta book for a Zorastrianian family,Quran for Muslim, Bible for Christian and Torah for Jewish.

· Gold fish in a bowl of clear water : The sign of wishing health and blessing for Iranian children.

· Mirror : Looking for truth and brightness with guidance of Ahoura Mazda (God).

· Clock : Shows the exact moment of coming the new year.

· Painted eggs : Marks the concept of birth and circle of life.

Haftsin is the seven stuffs which in Persian/Parsi language start with "Sin" or "S". They are placed next to each other on the table in front of candles, holly book, gold fish, mirror and clock.

Sabzeh/wheat or lentil sprouts : Purity and good fortune
Samanu/a paste made with wheat : Sweetness and fertility
Sib/apple : Health, beauty and fragrance
Sir/garlic : Medicine and health
Sekkeh/coin : wealth
Sonbol/Hyacinth : Love
Serkeh/vinegar : Wards of bitterness in life

In an Iranian house during the Norooz celebration The moment of replacing old and new year is the most crucial moment in the life of the family, especially with regard to forgiving past mistakes, planning for a successful year, hugging and exchanging gifts. After starting the new year neighbours and friends visit each other and the feast goes on for a long 13 days vacation!

The Red Wednesday

2009-02-11T11:09:00.007-08:00

Last Wednesday of the Persian calender before the new year is called "Char Shanbeh Soori" or The Red Wednesday (The Festival of Fire). Halloween –the Celtic Samhain- is the similar festival in western culture.

In old Persian beliefs, the world is made by four major elements;
Water, Wind, Sand, Fire

In their belief fire is the holliest element and the most precious gift of God to human. It gives light and warmth and knowledge to life. It is powerful and protects human and also cleans the unclean. So they made holly temples _Atash Kadeh_ and set a fire place in it for donations and praying. After Islamic ages many of the Atash Kadehs were destroyed or their central fires got off but there are still some active Atash Kadeh in Iran which have protected their fires and kept them still alive for thousand years without letting them to go off for a minute.

Char Shanbeh Soori, the favorit holiday of Iranian children is the eve of celebrating fire with lighting bonfires in public places. People leaping over the flames which means passing the old year and entering the new year , hoping to see the light through this dark unlucky night, wishing health and happiness for the coming year and shouting:

Give me your beautiful red color
And take back my sickly pallor!

Traditionally, it is believed that the livings were visited by the spirits of their ancestors on the last Wednesday of the year. Many people especially children, wrap themselves in shrouds like ghosts. By the light of the bonfire, they run through the streets banging on pots and pans with spoons called "Ghashog Zani" and make noises to beat out the last unlucky Wednesday of the year, while they knock on doors to ask for chocolates and treats.

"Fal Goush" is another ritual of Char Shanbeh Souri. Someone makes a wish and stands at the corner of an intersection , or on a terrace or behind a wall. That person will know his/her fortune when he/she overhears conversation of a passerby. It’s being done by single girls the most.

"Haji Firouz / Pirouz" is the black faced character who is the traditional herald of the new year ( No-Rooz ) and begins to wander the streets and alleyways in his red costume weeks before the new year. The sound of his songs (singing that spring is in the air) and the sight of his dance is amusing and funny. Although the blackness of his skin has been the source of some racial controversy in Iranian intellectual circles, his intentions and spirit have always been well received and loved by the people.

Valentine or Sepandarmazgan?

2009-02-11T11:09:00.005-08:00

(This text is taken from Mr. M.A.Abtahi's blog and Wikipedia encyclopedia)

It is about two decades that by the eve of Valentine people of Iran get seriously busy buying gifts, chocolate and flowers and everywhere turns red. Indeed any thing under the flag of love and friendship, replacing the hatred is beautiful and praised. This holiday is being observed in western world and the western influenced-cultures on 14 February. But some people believe that Iranians should adjust their day of love and friendship considering their history and on the basis of their culture.

In Persian culture, Sepandarmazgan is a day for love, which is on 29 Bahman in the solar calender. (17 February in Gregorian calender). The legend goes back to thousand years ago when Ahouramazda (God) was creating the earth. By the way Sepandarmazgan is the national day of earth and the earth is the symbol of love and modesty. After that, Sepandarmazgan as the festival of love between couples was observed in the Great Persian Empire 2500 years ago hundreds of years before its acknowledgement by western world.

But anyway being in harmony with an internationally registered occasion, in my opinion has nothing against the sense of nationalism. Love and friendship are of those terms being the main essence of the true theological teachings and the rich Persian literature. The truth is that this day is world widely accepted and the market of gifts and chocolate is warm. Hope that our people be always happy.

Yalda night , the winter solstice

2009-02-11T11:09:00.003-08:00

The winter solstice,1^st of Dey month in Persian calendar ( 21th or 22nd December) is the first night of winter, the longest night of the year after the shortest day of the year when the darkness spreads on the earth for the longest time and it is called "Shab-e Yalda or Chelleh" (Yalda or Chelleh night).

This night was always the source of inspiration for Iranian artists and poets and in the lyrical literature there are lots of samples about the darkness of "Shab-e Yalda", resembling to very black hair of the beloved one. The history of the festival even backs to 7000 years ago. Believing in brightness respecting progressed then in Mythraism religion (way) probably 5500 years ago, Zorastrians added some more customs to it 3000 years ago and after Islamic period Persians are still celebrating this very ancient festival.

Although nobody denies each culture has their own local mythology and cultural elements, there are loads of historical and mythological researches which give documents about Mythraistic customs such as Yalda eve and their holy weekend on Sundays (the day of sun) and its influence on Christianity and especially Christmas custom for whom want to do a detailed and boring research!

It is interesting by itself that how very ancient Iranian’s astronomers could find a scale to divide seasons, find the longest night and make a solar Persian calendar. The ceremony of Yalda night is to honor of knowledge and brightness which will arrive the day after the longest darkness of the year. That is why the family members gather and celebrate it together and not sleeping during the long night. Some of the customs of Yalda night is enchasing the streets, eating dried fruits, winterish vegetables, watermelon, pomegranate, telling the fortunes, reading lyrics of Hafez (Iranian mystic poet 1310 CE) and epics of great Ferdowsi (Iranian poet 935 CE) from The King-book (Shah nameh) and waiting for the first rays of the sunrise, when the day and wisdom conquers the darkness and ignorance.

The Carpet of Blood

2009-02-11T11:09:00.001-08:00

Persian carpet (Farsh-e-Irani). the unique treasure. The essential part of Persian art and culture. The combination of aesthetics, nobility, time and pain of a nation. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of

Iran

and dates back to the ancient Persia

Iranian people always have had these small woven gardens in their houses.Their children have grown up on them, they have eaten their food, gathered the family members, listened to stories of grand parents, read poems, studied and got old on these colourful floral backgrounds. The other countries’ people from all over the world have been experienced being on this nobel and honoured handicraft of Iran even once in their life time as well. But we seldom have thought about the hard process of making a Persian carpet hidden behind their extreme delicacy and beauty. Nor have thought about their modest unknown designers and weavers that have dyed the silk and wool yarns with natural pigments , sitting behind the wooden looms for seasons and years, combing and weaving the threads, making the small harmonic herbal patterns in all of the carpet-making workshops of Iran which have their special designing and knotting style.

It has been a long time I thought nobody use children for making the rugs anymore but the fact is they still do it. The dealers buy the handmade carpets of children with the lowest price and sell them to the highest price and export them to the international bazaars. Small hands of children knot the wraps and wefts tighter and more accurate than adults’ so using kids as carpet weavers increases the quality of carpets. The carpet maker children of north,east and northern west of Iran spend main part of their short lives in the dark humid workshops. In some of the famous carpet-making provinces of Iran the 6 years old children are still working in the -30 Cg winters, knotting the silky yarns, cutting their hands with knives and combing the woven lines with their bleeding bandaged fingers. The traditional hand-knotted workshops that produce magnificent colourful rugs are usually dark, cold and humid and it won’t last so long until the young weavers lose their lives from tuberculosis and pneumenia.

Persian carpets contain the untold stories of love and mania, delicacy and pain, gentleness and blood of an idealist nation. From the masterpieces of Esfahan, Kashan, Ardebil and Yazd carpets to the small valuable naive simple designs of Turkmen, Ghashghaie, Balouch, Kurd and other Iranian ethnics who have made Kilim(Gilim), Jajim and Gabbeh (which are alike Paul Klee’s and Mark Rothko’s paintings!) we can see the signs of a very creative mind and craftsmanship of the carpet makers. Another point which makes the Iranian carpets more mysterious and above all other handmade rugs, is that whatever they work more and get older, their value, beauty and quality increase and the colours will be bright more cheerful than the first day and never get pale, unlike the machine-made carpets. It seems like the young carpet makers who often die before starting their 20s, dedicate an eternal life to their handmade creatures.

For an Iranian person, a carpet is rememberance of childhood, Persian gardens, folk songs that the little girls sing between knotting the silky threads while coughing (Maybe a reason for Iranians who take off their shoes inside of the house). For a foreigner a Persian carpet might means nothing but an expensive beautiful handicraft covering the ground under the feet or hanging on a wall as an antique. But in both cases this is a valuable work of hand, eye and imagination that needs to pay more attention from the majority of people and international markets. The more NGO’s will be active about the carpet-makers situation, this harmonic poetic piece of art will be appreciated more and the young weavers will have more chance to study and live a healthy life.

Let’s take a new look to the Persian carpets and teach our children to know and respect the result of the young carpet makers’ short life.

What is a Persian Pardis?

2009-02-11T11:08:00.001-08:00

Garden is a delighting place that Persians has thought of making and designing it from a long time ago. A lot of known historians have introduced Persians as the first creators of gardens. In an Avestan book archeologists have found a document offering designing the gardens in Persian style was used in this land about 5000-7000 years ago, thousand years before the Japanese and English gardens.

If Persians are not the first, but without any doubt they are from the first garden maker nations who reached to a national designing style and taught their foundations to other nations.

The word of "Paradaez" in Medes language meant a place which is full of pleasent aromas and then in Pahlavi and Dari persian language changed to "Pardis" which is still used in Parsi language for word of "Garden" or "Heaven". Today this word in Greek language is called "Paradeisos" and in French and English it is called "Paradis" and "Paradise" which means heaven.

Will Durant in The story of civilization writes, "Other nations like Indians and after thousand years, Arab Muslims started imitating designing their gardens very similar to this style. After that medieval Europeans were inspired from these gardens to shape their own style." The Hanging gardens of Babylon ruins, Alhambra in Spain and Taj Mahal in India (which is made by a Persian Architect) are the obvious reasons of this influence.

The most important characteristic of Persian garden which distinguishes it easily from other types is the very regular and stable geometric plan (cause of having the most amount of earthquakes in whole Asia) and compositions of the central pool which reflects the picture of house and trees and plants around in a symmetric shape that is due to a Pre-Islamic belief on purity of water, importance of images in the material world and idealism, the geometric divisions of square and rectangle (signs of the holly Indo-Iranian/Aryan Swastika and their belief in four fundamental elements of the earth; Water, Wind, Sand and Fire), building the garden in an inclined ground, making small water falls which refers the short life of human, applying the autumn and always green plants at the same time, and using the fruit trees, medical herbal plants and various types of roses the most.

There are also some earlier samples of using central pools and fourfold pattern in gardens of Pre-Islamic ages in Cyrus the Great palace called Apadana which shows the obvious signs of central pool in front of the building and a royal Persian garden in Achaemenid kingdom 2500 years ago that was found by the Scottish archeologist David Stronach.

Persian Pardis reflects a huge artistic and architectural delicacy which is the result of a very Asian/Persian look to the universe through thousand years experience and creativity. The total form of these gardens were continuously used in this land until Qajar kingdom 200 years ago and the influence of west which was finally lead to the contemporary living style and disappearing this garden making style in the civil engineering. Although these gardens are parts of history of Iran now but sometimes we can see their influence in the way of making small yard of houses in traditional style and also in the designs of Persian carpets which show the attachment between them and the gardens because the memory of Persian paradise still remains in minds of Iranian people. Maybe it’s the time for young Iranian artists and architects for more attempts to make their art with a new look at their national heritage and rich culture. That’s the way to get into modern life and still remain with a Persian identity.