Английская Википедия:Iranian folklore
Шаблон:Culture of Iran Iranian folklore encompasses the folk traditions that have evolved in Greater Iran.
Oral legends
[[File:Singing storytelling performance of the story of Shahnameh in Qazvin 2.jpg|thumb|A storytelling performance of the stories of [[Shahnameh|Шаблон:Transl]], the Iranian national epic, in Qazvin, Iran.]]
Folktales
Storytelling has an important presence in Iranian culture.[1] In classical Iran, minstrels performed for their audiences at royal courts[1] and in public theaters.[2] A minstrel was referred to by the Parthians as [[gusans|Шаблон:Transl]] in Parthian, and by the Sasanians as Шаблон:Transl in Middle Persian.[2] Since the time of the Safavid dynasty, storytellers and poetry readers appeared at coffeehouses.[3]
The following are a number of folktales known to the people of Iran:[4]
- Шаблон:Transl ("Rolling Pumpkin")[5]
- Шаблон:Transl ("Moon-brow")[6][7]
- [[The Love for Three Oranges (fairy tale)#Iran|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Bitter Orange and Bergamot Orange")[8]
- Шаблон:Transl ("Old Woman's Cold"), a period in the month of Esfand, at the end of winter, during which an old woman's flock is not impregnated. She goes to Moses and asks for an extension of the cold winter days, so that her flock might copulate.[9]
- [[The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Shangul and Mangul")[10]
- Шаблон:Transl ("Auntie Cockroach")[11][12]
Below are a number of historical tale books that contain Iranian folktales.
- [[Amir Arsalan|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Amir Arsalan the Famous"), a popular legend that was narrated to Naser-ed-Din Shah.
- [[Darab Nama|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Book of Darab"), a 12th-century book by Abu Taher Tarsusi that recounts a fiction about Alexander the Great and Darius III.[13][14]
- Шаблон:Transl, also known as "The Persian Alexander Romances", an Iranianized version of The Romance of Alexander.[15] Not to be confused with the classic book of Nezami.
- One Thousand and One Nights, the frame-story of which derives from the now lost Middle Persian work Шаблон:Transl ("Thousand Nights").
- [[Samak-e Ayyar|Шаблон:Transl]], a folktale about an Iranian Шаблон:Transl that was written down during the 12th century.[16] Шаблон:Transl, at times synonymous with [[Javānmardi|Шаблон:Transl]] ("young man"), referred to a member of a class of warriors in Iran from the 9th to the 12th century.[17]
- [[Shahnameh|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Book of Kings"), the national epic of Iran, written by 10th-century Persian poet Ferdowsi, based on Шаблон:Transl, a Middle Persian compilation of the history of Iranian kings and heroes from mythical times down to the reign of Chosroes II.[18]
- Шаблон:Transl, a derivation from the Greek romance of Metiochus and Parthenope that was written down by Persian poet Onsori in the 11th century.[19][20]
Heroes
Heroes in Шаблон:Transl
- Arash the Archer (Шаблон:Transl), who shot his arrow from the peak of Damavand to settle a land dispute between Iran and Turan. The festival of Tirgan is linked to this epic, besides having roots in the ancient myth of archangel Tishtrya.
- Garshasp (Шаблон:Transl), a dragon-slaying hero in Iranian legends, now honored as Шаблон:Transl ("chief hero").[21]
- Gordafarid (Шаблон:Transl), praised for her daringly martial role in the tragedy of [[Rostam and Sohrab|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Rostam and Sohrab").
- Rostam, a celebrated [[marzban|Шаблон:Transl]] ("border-guardian"), best known for his mournful battle with his son Sohrab. He was the son of Dastan.
Other heroes
- Hossein the Kurd of Shabestar (Шаблон:Transl), a Kurdish warrior from Shabestar who devoted his life to fighting for justice, representing a [[Javānmardi|Шаблон:Transl]] ("young man").[22]
- Koroghlu, a legendary hero who seeks to fight against the unjust, in the oral traditions of the Turkic-speaking peoples.
- Pourya-ye Vali, a 14th-century champion from Khwarezm, regarded as a role model by zurkhane athletes.[23]
- Yaʿqub-e Leys, under the court of whom the Persian language reemerged after two centuries of eclipse by Arabic ("Two Centuries of Silence").[24]
Characters in jokes
- Molla Nasreddin
- Dakho
Creatures
[[File:Shahnameh - The Div Akvan throws Rustam into the sea.jpg|thumb|A [[Shahnameh|Шаблон:Transl]] miniature painting, depicting a demon (Шаблон:Transl) throwing Rostam into the sea.]]
- [[Al (folklore)|Шаблон:Transl]]: a scrawny old woman with a clay nose and red face who attacks pregnant women when they are alone and interferes with childbirth. It is believed that she carries a basket in which she puts the liver or lung of the mother,[25] although a variety of other descriptions exist as well.[26]
- Night hag (Шаблон:Transl): a ghost or an evil creature that causes sleep paralysis.[27] It is believed that the creature knows about hidden treasures, and one would be told of one of them by grabbing the creature's nose. One can rescue themself from the creature by wiggling their fingers.
- Himantopodes (Шаблон:Transl): an evil creature that uses its flexible, leather-like legs as tentacles to grip and capture human beings. The captives will be enslaved and forced to carry the creature until they die of fatigue.[28]
- Huma: a Griffin-like mythical bird said to never come to rest, living its entire life flying invisibly high above the earth, and never alighting on the ground (in some legends it is said to have no legs)[29]
- Demon (Шаблон:Transl; from Avestan [[daeva|Шаблон:Transl]]): an evil being, devil, ogre, or giant.[30]
- Ghoul (Шаблон:Transl): a hideous monster with a feline head, forked tongue, hairy skin, and deformed legs that resemble the limp and skinny legs of a prematurely born infant.[31]
- Genie (Шаблон:Transl): a supernatural creature, comparable to the elves and the goblins, that is believed to be created from smokeless fire and to be living invisibly alongside the visible world.[32]
- Manticore (Шаблон:Transl: from Middle Persian Шаблон:Transl), a man-eater with the head of a human and the body of a lion, similar to the Egyptian sphinx.
- Amen Bird (Шаблон:Transl): a mythical bird in Persian literature that flies continuously and fulfills people's wishes.[33][34]
- [[Peri|Шаблон:Transl]]: a type of exquisite, winged fairy-like spirit ranking between angels and evil spirits.
- Reera, Rayra or Raira: was a magical gorgeous woman that believed to have brought beauty to the Northern jungles of Iran.
- The Patient Stone (Шаблон:Transl): the most empathetic of listeners, that is believed to absorb the sorrows and pains of the person who confides in itself.[35] It is said that when the stone can no longer contain the pain it harbors, it bursts into pieces.[35] It is also a very famous folktale.[36][37]
- [[Shahmaran|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Chief of the Snakes"): the intelligent queen of snakes who has human features above her waist and those of a serpent below.
- [[Simurgh|Шаблон:Transl]] (from Middle Persian Шаблон:Transl, Avestan Шаблон:Transl; "raptor"): a benevolent mythical bird.[38]
- [[Takam|Шаблон:Transl]]: the king of goats, in the folklore of the Turkic-speaking people of Azerbaijan. Traditionally, the stories of takam are recited in public theaters by a minstrel called takamchi.
- [[Zār|Шаблон:Transl]]: an evil spirit in the folklore of Iran's southern coastal regions who possesses individuals and harms them.
Locations
Social beliefs and practices
- Evil eye (Шаблон:Transl; Шаблон:Lang-pal[39]), a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare.[40] To protect one from it, a pendant, gemstone or likewise that depicts an eye is used as an amulet.[41] Another way believed to protect one from an evil eye is to release a fragrant smoke of esfand (peganum harmala) and waft it around the head of those exposed to the gaze of strangers. As this is done, an ancient prayer is also recited.[40][42]
- Divination (Шаблон:Transl, Шаблон:Transl, Шаблон:Transl), including interpretation of objects which appear haphazardly, interpretation of involuntary bodily actions (sneezing, twitching, itches, etc.), observing animal behavior, playing cards or chick-peas, bibliomancy (e.g., using the poetry of Hafez Shirazi), mirrors and lenses, observation of the liver of a slain animal, the flame of a lamp, etc.[43]
- Шаблон:Transl ("coquetry and supplication"), a tradition between a lover and a beloved based on which the beloved hurts their lover by coquetry and the lover's response is supplication and insistence in love.[44][45]
- [[Taarof|Шаблон:Transl]], a sort of etiquette, defined as "the active, ritualized realization of differential status in interaction".[46]
- In Iranian wedding tradition, it is customary to buy a silver mirror and two candles and place it on the wedding sofra (a piece of cloth), next to foods and other traditional items. The first thing that the bridegroom sees in the mirror should be the reflection of his wife-to-be.[47]
Ceremonies
Шаблон:Main [[File:West Vancouver, Chaharshanbe Suri, 19 mars 2008, 2.jpg|thumb|Jumping over bonfires on the occasion of [[Chaharshanbe Suri|Шаблон:Transl]].]]
- Nowruz ("new day"), the Iranian New Year's day, celebrated on the vernal equinox.
- Traditional heralds: Amu Nowruz and Haji Firuz
- [[Chaharshanbe Suri|Шаблон:Transl]] ("Red Wednesday"), celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz by performing rituals such as jumping over bonfires and lighting off firecrackers and fireworks.[48][49]
- Problem-solving nuts (Шаблон:Transl)[50]
- [[Fāl-gūsh|Шаблон:Transl]], an act of fortune-telling on the occasion of Шаблон:Transl.[43]
- [[Sizdah Be-dar|Шаблон:Transl]], celebrated 13 days after Nowruz (Farvardin 13, usually coincided with April 1 or 2) by picnicking.Шаблон:Cn
- Шаблон:Transl ("prince of Nowruz") or Шаблон:Transl ("king of Nowruz"), a festival that used to be held six days after Nowruz for a period of one to five days, during which a temporary commoner was elected to rule over the country.[51]
- [[Yaldā Night|Шаблон:Transl]],[52] marking "the longest night of the year" and commemorating the birth of the ancient goddess Mithra on the eve of the winter solstice (Шаблон:Transl; usually falling on December 20 or 21).[53][54][55]
Folk-games
- [[Alak Dolak|Шаблон:Transl]] ("peg [and] bat"), identical to tip-cat.[56]
- Шаблон:Transl ("uncle chain-maker")[57][58]
- Шаблон:Transl, a counting-out game, used as a children's nursery rhyme.[59]
- Шаблон:Transl ("sunshine-moonlight")[58]
- [[As-Nas|Шаблон:Transl]], a card game that is identical to poker.[60][61]
- Tag (Шаблон:Transl, Шаблон:Transl)[62][58]
- [[Ganjifa|Шаблон:Transl]], a trick-taking card game.[61]
- Court piece (Шаблон:Transl), a trick-taking card game that is identical to whist.
- Hopscotch (Шаблон:Transl)
- Backgammon (Шаблон:Transl), a two-player board game.[63]
- [[Pasur (card game)|Шаблон:Transl]], a fishing card game.
- Knucklebones (Шаблон:Transl)[58]
- Hide-and-seek (Шаблон:Transl)[58]
- [[Shelem|Шаблон:Transl]], a trick-taking card game that is identical to rook.
- [[Khar-polis|Шаблон:Transl]] ("donkey-cop"), identical to leapfrog.
- Шаблон:Transl[58]
-
Шаблон:Transl]] cards. Brooklyn Museum, New York City.
-
Шаблон:Transl]] cards. Moghadam Museum, Tehran.
-
Backgammon (Шаблон:Transl) dice and beads.
See also
Iranian folktales:
- The Black Colt
- Grünkappe
- Leaves of Pearls
- Molla Badji
- The Snake-Prince Sleepy-Head
- The Wonderful Sea-Horse
- Yasmin and the Serpent Prince
References
Further reading
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Ill. Typologie des persischen Volksmärchens. Beirut: Orient-Inst. der Deutschen Morgenländischen Ges.; Wiesbaden: Steiner [in Komm.], 1984.
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Marzolph, Ulrich. "Persian Popular Literature". In: Oral Literature of Iranian Languages. Kurdish, Pashto, Balochi, Ossetic, Persian & Tajik. Ed. P. G. Kreyenbroek and U. Marzolph. London: I. B. Tauris, 2010. pp. 208–364. (A History of Persian Literature. ed. E. Yarshater. vol. 18. Companion vol. 2).
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Cite web
- Шаблон:Cite book
External links
- Iran: Daily life and social customs. From the Encyclopædia Britannica.
- Folklore studies of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. From the Encyclopædia Iranica.
- Folk poetry. From the Encyclopædia Iranica.
- The passion (taʿzia) of Ḥosayn by Peter Chelkowski. From the Encyclopædia Iranica.
- Lee Lee Hozak, on Iranian folkloric songs among Iranian Americans, from Homa Sarshar's In The Back Alleys of Exile (vol. 2; p. 304).
- ↑ 1,0 1,1 Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ 2,0 2,1 Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
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- ↑ 35,0 35,1 Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite journal
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ 40,0 40,1 Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 43,0 43,1 Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 58,0 58,1 58,2 58,3 58,4 58,5 Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ 61,0 61,1 Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia