RACIST

Anglo khan, who needs a dynamic culture, when we have a

predominantly. reactionary, male-chuavinist, conservative, traditional one?!

Thank god we've had IR for more than three decades now, or we still would have thought of Shia Clregy as an integral part of our 'traditional" culture, and not in need of any change.

Come to think of it, it's not so much  the various aspects of our traditions and culture that are backward or awkward and incompatible with 21st century, it's our refusal to adopt a critical stance and inablity to provide a critique of our shortcomings.

And a happy Noroz to all.

P.S. Rohozi tradition (with Kaka Siah) and Haji Firoz have a lot in common. This tradition of "big-mouth" comical slave is also depicted in classic Greek comedies as well, and not confined to Iran only.

ارباب خودم سامیلی علیکم

It is sad to see Iranica using such dodgy sources.

Re "liberation" of Haji Firuz!

Dear Mehrban, I believe you've misperceived my comment below! I never advocated the "liberation" of Haji Firuz, for that is indeed one of the silliest notions I've ever come across -- no personal offence inteded! For one thing, Haji Firuz is a fictional and mythological character, and one can not actually excpet to liberate a fictional character, and even if possible, moderation of controversial historical legends takes its due process throuought the entirety of a society rather than an individual effort!

My point however, is not to cast doubt on the origins of the Haji Firuz/Atash Afruz phenomenon, for for the sake of the argument, that's not the basis of my rationale. The telltale sign is that he is depicted by a non-black person whose face is painted in black while speaking in a broken language that is universally attributed to black slaves! 

Allow me to take the liberty here to recount a personal experience in that regard; years ago when still back in school, a female (of African origins) acquintance of mine who had developed a keen interest in Iranian and Persian culture due to efforts put forth by me and my circle of friends, decided to accompany me on a visit to a Noruz bazaar. I believe the rest of the story falls in place without me having to elaborate; nonetheless, a Haji Firuz (with his face painted black and lips painted in white) was there floating around, greeting people and handing baloons to children. The expression on my friend's face made me realize that the whole trip was a mistake, albeit she was immmensely impressed with the spirit of the bazaar and enthusiasm demonstraded by Iranians at the venue!   

I personally don't have anything against Haji Firuz, and on the contrary, prefer it over any religious ceremony in particular, and cult (including secular cults) ritual in general! However, what I find modifiable about the persona is the black face of the character that imposes a racial context pertaining to one of the darkest periods of human history on an otherwise benign legend! Who knows, Perhaps Haji Firuz could still be as funny without a black face after all! Perhaps all it takes to overcome our dogmas is seeing the picture from another's POV!

Mehraban Jaan: You are

Mehraban Jaan: You are truly kind. Happy Norooz, my lovely cyber friend.

 A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Hello Vildemos jaan

You were missed in your absence. 

"Firoz" is an Arabized version of Piroz (Victorious)

The same way they changed Pil (Elephant) to Fil,...

What is alarming, yet at the same time very usual and the status-quo within Iranians is a lack of critical perspective, attachment to old held beiefs, and a dismissal of all new perspectives.

It's interesting that the author of this piece at least cites three sources, but none of the writers opposed to his suggestions even bother to cite their sources. They just know!

Are these the signs of a healthy, open-minded culture in 21st century? You be the judge.

Dear Mehraban: Thank you

Dear Mehraban: Thank you for sharing your knowledge of 'aAtash afrooz'.

Your  theory is much more believable than the rest.

A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

*

کلیپ فرامرز جان:

اینا چرا اینشکلی میکردن یا بهتره بگم چه کار میکردن؟؟؟ عروسی ارازل و اوباش بوده یا در ترکیه\آذربایجان رسم هست که اینگونه مراسم غوروق بشود؟ اگر این طور هست که بایستی چسبید به نمادهای  ناپسند عروسی!!!؟

Arj.... on last part of your comment.

"had our society not been dominated and our national identity
not under pressure by a reppressive theocracy such as IRI for the past
three decades," 

Irans monarchy has for centuries defended our national identity, language, values and culture from religous repression, unfortunately most ignoramuses don't see the obvious infront of their eyes, the same blockheads you find busy planning on impossible to deliver hopes that are sadly less idealistc than what our once thriving culture produced and gave the world. The elements that have proven to repeatedly be the basis of some of the greatest successes in the world, in terms of bringing humans closer to the truth are and have always been the foundations of the monarchy and will see their greatest days in years to come, regardless of me or views of suport or opposition, because they are in the blood, the bones and skin of the Iranian people.

Another theory

I have not read the blog but mostly to Arj.

Arj, I used to think the same thing before and I was keen on librating Haji Firooz from his misery and imposed persona :).  Then I was presented with a much more believable argument that "Haji Forooz"  is in fact an Islamization of "Atash Afrooz"  who is the one who starts the fire of the new year therefore his red clothing and his soot covered face.

To me the theory of Atash Afrooz is much more plausible as an integral personage of an ancient Iranian custom could not have authentically been called Haji Firooz.  

Re countentious cultural residues

This (the Haji Firuz context) obviously refers to the slavery era -- considering HF's customary servitude towards his master (Arbab) and the fact that he is a (albeit witty) servant with no human rights (slave), does not take a mythologist or an anthropologist to figure out!

Moreover, considering that Iranian culture and psyche are not pervious to slavery, it seems that this traadition is a cultural residue of the era in which slave trade was the main economic activity of the Islamic empire (of which Iran was an itegral part) and introduction of slavery to Iranian society.

However, had our society not been dominated and our national identity not under pressure by a reppressive theocracy such as IRI for the past three decades or so, perhaps our civil society would in all liklihood have addressed and modified the racial aspects of such folklores so they'd be more compatibale with the modern world by now! If history is any indication; the more pressure exerted from above, the more resilient our nation's convictions become!

Happy St. Patrick Day Oon Yaroo and Red Wine

That clip could be a St. Patrick celebration in Daghestan area.

It sure looked like that they were having a great time and maybe too many Guinesses!

Enjoy the festivities.

Happy Noruz Faramarz & Red Wine Jaan, is that video

from the great Iranian Azerbaijani folks or the Ex-Soviet Azerbaijani?

I could't tell.

It was extremely funny specially when the guy was rolling on the floor or when one guy smashed something on another guy's head! Very aggressive kind of Noruz celebration indeed!?

Thanks for posting.

شراب عزیز

محفل گرم و پر از بزن و بکوبی بود که مایه شادی من در این ایام خجسته نوروز شد. گفتم شب جمعه ای به دوستان نشان بدهم که شاید آنها هم انقدر سخت نگیرند و شاد بشوند.

...

فانوسِ گرامی‌ ...

مطالبی‌ را که فرمودید بسیار وزین اما حرف و داستان فراوان است،این قبیل خواسته‌ها چون از ایران زمین بر نمیخیزند پس نه‌ ریشه دارند و نه‌ قاعده،در سرزمینمان هیچگاه گردهمائی و یا اجلاسی درین زمینه برپا نشده است چون ما حدس می‌زنیم که مردم همین گونه نوروز را خواهند.اگر مردم خواستارِ تغییر باشند و آن را عوض و بدل خواهند،ما نیز تعظیم به این خواسته خواهیم کرد.

از روی دگر باید اشاره کرد که این مباحث علمی‌ نیستند چون افرادی که بدان می‌‌پردازند تخصصی در زمینه فرهنگِ ایران،ندارند.منظور از تخصص چیست ؟ یعنی‌ نه سالها تحقیق و نه‌ تفحص،نه تدریس در دانشگاه و دریغ از یک کتاب و حتی یک چند صفحه جزوه به تاییدِ تمامی کاردانانِ فرهنگی‌ کشور.

این خیزِ جدید خواهی‌ و نو سازی ریشه فرنگی‌ دارد که نباید این چنین ساده بدان پرداخت و این چنین پر کنایه در موردِ آن صحبت کرد.حالا اگر کسی‌ به ما ایراد بگیرد،که گیرد... اهمیتی نیست،شنا درین دریا.. با امواجِ کم ارتفاع.. هیچ ترسی‌ برای ما ندارد.

هوا به زودی صاف شده و زمستان می‌‌رود،رو سیاهی به کسی‌ ماند که بد خواهد،چه برای کسی‌ و چه برای کشوری.

موفق باشید.

---

فرامرز جان آن ویدئو چه ربطی به جریان دارد ؟ کاش توضیح دهی‌ .

با سپاس از تمامِ دوستان.

Happy Nowruz to everybody.

Some of our traditions and customs must change.  For example, from the time I wrote about mahi-ghermez, in my family and close friends, none of us has used mahi-ghermez in a haft-sin table.  Today’s Iran has millions of Haji who are willing to do anything for money and yes one can see dark faced Haji’s too.

Happy Nowruz Everybody.

Since you asked, circumcision of children must also be banned

I agree with this part of the argument in the article, and based on that I say circumcision of children must also be banned:

“… and [shouldn’t we] leave to the past those habits and customs that are not in accordance with the present time and global and cultural situations?  Isn’t time like a river that in the causeway of history it washes away scornful habits and customs and anti-people traditions like worthless pebble and sand, and throws them into the history’s trash bin, and only humanistic and productive achievements are settled down in the bottom like polished stones that are given to the future generations?”

There are billions of people in this world that do not circumcise their children, boys or girls, and find this tradition to be a barbaric act; yet based on an outdated custom some people still continue on doing it.  

NoRooz Celebration in Other Parts of Persian Empire!

And a great time was had by everyone!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmkdWuMoVbM

Not An Original Iranian Tradition!

For the origin please look up the term Minstrel.  Also check out the following link.

//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minstrel

Dear Red Wine Javan, take the proverb you just used

moo ra az mast kesheedan beroon! Where is the root of this proverb? Where did it come from? I suspect this proverb comes from an age and era when Iranian people were suffering from severe hair loss (in fact 70 percent of Iranian men and 60 percent of Iranian women go kachal by the age of 45!) I know because I went kachal 20 years ago and I am 65 years old now. At any rate, during the process of buying and selling mast both mastband's and mastkhar's hair would fall into the mast khomreh and as a result they would have to pull the hair strands out. In fact, they had to train near-sighted people to pull the hair out of mast and they were called moo az mast (mam)kesh! well, that was 1000 years ago. Yogurt making has gone totally automatic nowadays. No human interactions/interventions are needed from the time the cow is milked until the time you open your raspberry Yoplait. Do you see what I mean? Norouz Shoma Shad Bashad. 

 The richness of a culture

 The richness of a culture is not its preservation as is, but its dynamism and adaptation to new ideas and new understandings.  

 Thank you Azadeh jon for your eloquent definition

Here,here!

 A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

...

فانوسِ گرامی‌ ...

این اولین باری نیست که کسی‌ می‌‌آید و این چنین در این زمینه با اسبی چوبین، تاخت و تاز می‌کند،ما از اینها زیاد دیده ایم و خیالمان راحت است چون مردمِ ایران (همانی که در ایران زندگی‌ میکنند و امرِ اینها به روی چشمِ ما است اگر خواهان تغییراتی در فرهنگ باشند) به پشتِ اینها نیستند،چرا ؟ چون در واقعیت چیزی در چنته ندارند و مردم نیز خود کار شناسند و مو را از ماست به بیرون کشند.

راستی‌ قرار بود ماهی‌ قرمز و قران را از سفره‌های هفت سین حذف کنند،در ایران را می‌‌گوئیم، پس چه شد ؟! سالِ شمسی‌ را زرتشتی و شاهنشاهی کنند، پس این چه شد ؟!

عجبا ... :)

بهارتان خجسته باد.

Dear Red Wine, according to your logic then we should continue

using aftabeh, manghal & vafoor, doolcheh, badbezan, koozeh, vagebee, panbehzan, and the rest of the old-fashioned Iranian artifacts no matter how out-of-date and obsolete and ridiculous they may be. I agree with the  author of this article that Haji Firooz is of dirooz entity and that it is nothing but of an embarrassing and frankly nonsensical nature. Iranian culture needs a jolt in the groin to get catapult into the twenty first century. With all due respect.

I agree

i wrote about this couple years ago. this tradition needs to go.

Haji Firooz as a Chimney Sweep!

There is a scene in the movie "Mary Poppins" where Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews and the rest of the cast have black faces because they had come out of the chimney and nobody seemed to have a problem with that.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu23HHmOG48&feature...!

Maybe we should re-brand Haji Firooz as a chimney sweep!

He is like a mal-nourished Santa coming out of the chimney! 

saeb

thank you saeb I never understood before why the black face. That makes sense now.

instead of being intimidated because of somebody else's crime (slavery) we should stay with our tradition and educate other people about it. Changing because other people make us feel bad for what they have done is not being progressive.

...

آزاده خانم جانِ عزیز ...

صحبتهای شما مثلِ همیشه نکاتِ جالبی‌ را مطرح میکنند،منتهی ما به همین فرهنگ،با تمامِ خوبیهایش و بدیهایش حساسیم.

راستی‌،امسال درخت‌های گیلاس میاگی گل ندادند و شاهد این قضیه در چند روزِ پیش بودیم و تازه باز گشته ایم.

هر روزتان سبز باد.

فرهنگ ملی بمثابه پدیده ای پویا، متحول و همواره در حال تغییر

چنانکه برخورد ما در بررسی, نقد و سنجش فرهنگی بر مبنای کنکاش در این مقوله بمثابه پدیده ای پویا، متحول و در حال تغییر، و نه مجموعه ای از مقولات جامد و تغیر ناپذیر باشد ،مسلما در یافتن و تعیین خاستگاه های فرهنگی بیشتر کنجکاوی به خرج خواهیم داد، با تعصب کمتر.
جالب اینجاست که نویسنده حد اقل سه منبع در مورد خاستگاه این سنت ذکر میکند، ولی هیچکدام از دوستان متعصب حد اقل این زحمت ( ذکر منبع ) را نیز به خود نمیدهند.
از دیگر "شاهکارهای" زبان و فرهنگ "اصیل" پارسی اطلاق و تعیین هویت ملیتها و نژادهای دیگر بر مبنای رنگ پوستشان میباشد: مانند " سرخ پوست" ، "سفید پوست " ، " سیاه پوست "
و ... از دوستان متعصب ، پر از عرق ملی خواهش میکنم این واژگان "شریف" : "سرخ پوست" ، "سفید پوست" ، "سیاه پوست" را به زبانهای کشورهای که مقیم آن هستند، فرانسوی، آلمانی، انگلیسی و غیره ترجمه کنند و خود داور این باشند که استفاده از چنین واژگانی با زندگی در قرن ۲۱ خوانایی و قرابت دارد یا نه؟
صد البته چنین برخورهای نژاد پرستانه نه مختص ما ایرانیان است و نه محدود به دایره فرهنگی ما . برای مثال در زبان چینی به خارجیان سپید "شیطان سپید"، خارجیان سیاه "شیطان سیاه"  و غیره اطلاق میشوند!!!  
نوروز تمامی عزیزان پیروز، صد سال به از این سالها

حاجی فیروز، برده نیست عزیز .

حاجی فیروزی که امروز میبینی سمبلی‌ از زمان زرتشتیان است که امروزه به این شکل درامده اما در حقیقت آنها آتش بانانی بودند که خبر عید را اول از همه با مسرت و شادی به شهر خبر میدادن و مژدگانی می‌گرفتند،و چون در آتشکده بودند همیشه به خاطر دود و خاکستر سیاه بود،این سیاهی هیچ ربطی‌ به برده داری و نژاد پرستی‌ ندارد،همیشه حاجی فیروز با عید می‌‌آید و همیشه شادی افزاست.