Due to economic hardships and the high cost of getting married, many Iranians have been deciding to simply not get hitched. Marriage is an important value in the eyes of the government, and they were getting worried by the trend, so they have worked out a solution.
If you are willing to conduct a traditional Iranian wedding, the government will pay for some or all of the ceremony out of a special annual fund they have set up of $720 million. The administration believes this will encourage more people to get married. As an added bonus, when applying for a marriage license, couples get to enjoy a mandatory hour-long lecture on contraception.
Skiing in Style
The word Iran brings to mind heat and deserts, but as we’ve already seen there is far more to the country than that. In addition to the plentiful mountains and even a few volcanoes, there are several ski resorts on mountain peaks just a few hours outside Tehran.
The two biggest resorts are Dizin and Shemshak. Dizin is the largest and even towers over Europe’s highest resort at 8,700 feet. Shemshak is not quite as high but features steeper and more challenging slopes, which are a favorite among seasoned skiers and snowboarders. They may not be quite as fancy and modernized as the European sites, but they are definitely less crowded.
Mixed Messages
In most places in the world, a thumbs up is a good thing. The gesture is so popular, Facebook-based their entire interface around it, but we would think twice before showing your approval in that way in Iran. Using the gesture there is in fact just like throwing up your middle finger in other places.
This can lead to a very big miscommunication which you should try and avoid. And even though there is some awareness that for tourists the meaning is different, don’t assume that your angry cab driver is trying to cheer you on if he gives you a big thumbs up. If you’re wondering what to do if you want to hitchhike, use your arms to wave down a car instead.
Viewing Habits
Even though owning and using a satellite dish is technically illegal in Iran, about 70% of the people in Tehran have Satellite TV in their homes as do about 40% of the people in the rest of the country. There are Persian language channels that are based in Europe and North America and have a large following in the country.
Iranians also enjoy watching television from all over the world. They love American sitcoms and dramas and also programs from Columbia and Korea, many of which are dubbed into Farsi.
Persian Culture
Rugs are not the only type of artwork that Iran is famous for, it is also known for its picturesque gardens, beautiful poetry, rich tapestries, and traditional music. It is no coincidence that the English word “paradise” is derived from the word Persia, which can be translated as an “enclosed garden”. Although of all the arts, it is poetry that really makes the Iranian heart sing. A typical person on the street will most likely be able to recite some famous versus, the most famous of which are from the Shahnameh or The Epic of Kings.
A few of the most beautiful poems known to man have come out of Iraq over the years, from amazing poets like Firdawsī, Hāfez, Sa’adī, among others. However, the glory of the Iranian written word is not contained to the past, present-day poets, novelists, and essayists are still admired and avidly read.