Unique foods and dishes
Tah-chin, a savory saffron rice-cake with a filling,
commonly marinated chicken fillets.
The people of Semnan have many foods and dishes that are specific to Semnan. Some of the common ingredients used in Semnani dishes consist of pomegranate extracts, fresh
walnuts from Shahmirzad (şômırzé), a variety of greens and herbs known in Persian as sabzijat, and more recently, potatoes. Semnani food tends to be slightly sour and spicey when compared to the general culinary preferences of Tehran. In fact, there is an old proverb among the local people that says, "Semnan has so many foods, that a wife from this city can cook a different dish for every night of the year."
Some of the famous dishes are: Chelo Gousht, Sabzi polo and Khoresht e Esfanaj va Gerdou (espenôj vu yüz).
The Semnani people are also quite fond of a variety of breads such as shirmal, shortbread (kamôç), and Kolucheh pastries. In the Semnani language, bread that is baked in an oven is referred to as "nün," while bread made by other means is referred to as "sôdjí."
The following are the names of some foods in English and Semnani: chicken (gırká), pomegranate (nôr), grapes (engír), cucumber (djürüng), walnut (yüz), eggplant (vıngun), and apricot (şillık).
walnuts from Shahmirzad (şômırzé), a variety of greens and herbs known in Persian as sabzijat, and more recently, potatoes. Semnani food tends to be slightly sour and spicey when compared to the general culinary preferences of Tehran. In fact, there is an old proverb among the local people that says, "Semnan has so many foods, that a wife from this city can cook a different dish for every night of the year."
Some of the famous dishes are: Chelo Gousht, Sabzi polo and Khoresht e Esfanaj va Gerdou (espenôj vu yüz).
The Semnani people are also quite fond of a variety of breads such as shirmal, shortbread (kamôç), and Kolucheh pastries. In the Semnani language, bread that is baked in an oven is referred to as "nün," while bread made by other means is referred to as "sôdjí."
The following are the names of some foods in English and Semnani: chicken (gırká), pomegranate (nôr), grapes (engír), cucumber (djürüng), walnut (yüz), eggplant (vıngun), and apricot (şillık).
Traditional costume
Iran is a vast country containing many different ethnicities and languages. As a result, the traditional dress tends to vary by region, territory and sometimes even individual village. By in large, the majority of the ethnicities pertaining to the regions of Iran, dictate the traditional costumes. These include dress styles for Bakhtiaris, Baluchis, Loris, Gilanis, Kurds, Ghoochanis, Ghashghahis, and others. Some dresses come also from the different historical times, such as the Qajar dynasty.
Local art
This one belonging to Rahi Mo'ayeri. An illustration of Iran's deep artistic heritage.
Persian arts, or Iranian arts is one of the richest art heritages in world history and encompasses many disciplines including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and stonemasonry. There is also a very vibrant Iranian modern and contemporary art scene. (vıngun), and apricot (şillık).
Dance
17th century Persian women dance in a ceremony in Iran.
Persian dance refers to the dance styles indigenous to Iran. In Persian, dance is Raghs or Raqs, and is also referred to as Gher Dadan. What it is called and the style is different depending on the area, culture, and language of the local people. For example, the Kord or Kurd call dance Halperke, and the Lor of Lorestan or Luristan call dance Bākhten or Bāzee.
The style of dance found in most cities and among the diaspora is called 'raghs' or 'gher dadan' in Persian. It is almost entirely performed to 6/8 time signatures (called "shish o hasht") and is the only dance that is performed by all Iranic peoples regardless of ethnicity. The dance itself is highly individualistic and relies on solo improvisation performances much like all other Iranian art forms such as music, etc.
Typically in raghs, upper body motion is emphasized, along with hand motions, hip undulations and facial expressions being points of attention. Although often compared to Arabic dance, raghs is very distinct, due to its signature hand movements, and slow circular hip movements as opposed to the rapid hip movements used in belly dancing.
Gher dadan is faster paced. The upper body and lower body are both emphasized. Hip and chest movements are either circular or in an '8' shape. Movements can have a focused point of either the thighs, pelvis, hips, waist, back, shoulders, or chest. In Isfahan a popular dance among local men involves moving the pelvis in pop and lock fashion.
As the Muslim rulers at the Mughal courts invited many Persian dancers during their rule of the Indian subcontinent, some elements of Persian dance were absorbed into Kathak, a North-Indian classical dance style.
Often, raghs will be performed at relatively informal gatherings, such as family meetings, where guests will sit in a circle and a couple will dance in the middle, sometimes accompanied by a donbak or other drum. Raghs is also used more formally at various social events like weddings.
Dancing is also part of various mystic religions, including Sufism. Dancing mystics (regardless of their religious identification) are called Dervish. Dervishes can be either men or women, and Dervish dancing resembles Zar possession rituals from the south of Iran (joonoob), Egypt, and the Horn of Africa.
Persian dance appears in American pop culture in the 2004 film Alexander performed by the eunuch Bagoas at the ceremony where Clietus dies.
Belly dance is called Raghse Sharqi.
Among most notable ensembles of regional Iranian folk dance is Afsaneh Ballet. Other notable dancers include Jamilah, Azar Shiva, Foroozan, Farzaneh Kaboli, Mohammad Khordadian, and Shahrzad.
The style of dance found in most cities and among the diaspora is called 'raghs' or 'gher dadan' in Persian. It is almost entirely performed to 6/8 time signatures (called "shish o hasht") and is the only dance that is performed by all Iranic peoples regardless of ethnicity. The dance itself is highly individualistic and relies on solo improvisation performances much like all other Iranian art forms such as music, etc.
Typically in raghs, upper body motion is emphasized, along with hand motions, hip undulations and facial expressions being points of attention. Although often compared to Arabic dance, raghs is very distinct, due to its signature hand movements, and slow circular hip movements as opposed to the rapid hip movements used in belly dancing.
Gher dadan is faster paced. The upper body and lower body are both emphasized. Hip and chest movements are either circular or in an '8' shape. Movements can have a focused point of either the thighs, pelvis, hips, waist, back, shoulders, or chest. In Isfahan a popular dance among local men involves moving the pelvis in pop and lock fashion.
As the Muslim rulers at the Mughal courts invited many Persian dancers during their rule of the Indian subcontinent, some elements of Persian dance were absorbed into Kathak, a North-Indian classical dance style.
Often, raghs will be performed at relatively informal gatherings, such as family meetings, where guests will sit in a circle and a couple will dance in the middle, sometimes accompanied by a donbak or other drum. Raghs is also used more formally at various social events like weddings.
Dancing is also part of various mystic religions, including Sufism. Dancing mystics (regardless of their religious identification) are called Dervish. Dervishes can be either men or women, and Dervish dancing resembles Zar possession rituals from the south of Iran (joonoob), Egypt, and the Horn of Africa.
Persian dance appears in American pop culture in the 2004 film Alexander performed by the eunuch Bagoas at the ceremony where Clietus dies.
Belly dance is called Raghse Sharqi.
Among most notable ensembles of regional Iranian folk dance is Afsaneh Ballet. Other notable dancers include Jamilah, Azar Shiva, Foroozan, Farzaneh Kaboli, Mohammad Khordadian, and Shahrzad.