"MERRY CHRISTMAS" IN IRAN

MidEastYouth.com
/2008/12/25/merry-christmas-in-iran/
Dec 25 2008

On December 25, when all Radio and TV channels have special programs
for new year, I’d never call my Iranian Christian friends to say them
a warm "Merry Christmas". Since in this day there is no celebration in
their house. Christmas for Iranian Christians is started since January
6 and of course there are many stories behind this different time.

I don’t really know much of details, though. Catholic, Protestant
and the mainstream of Orthodox churches usually introduce the Jesus’s
birth on December 25. But Iranian Armenian church -which is part of
Armenian churches- is completely an independent sect in christianity
and with some other Christian sects believe the birthday of Jesus to
be on 6th January. So instead of starting celebrations 5 days before
new year, they start them 5 days after new year.

All this story is for Armenians which are mainstream christians in
Iran. But for Assyrian Christians the story is somehow same as all
over the world. Assyrian Christians follow catholic church so their
holiday is started since 5 days before new year.

However there is no relation between 1st January as first day of
new year and Jesus’s birth. The Georgian calendar and the new year
comes from Pagan-mostly mithraism- traditions before foundation
of christianity.Even though the start of counting is from Jesus’s
birth year.

That’s all about the date. And now about turkey. Maybe you think
Iranian Christians also eat turkey in new year. So you’re wrong. There
is no such a tradition between Christians here. At least among
Armenians, turkey is not a usual meal of the Christmas. Most of the
time, Iranian Christians cook some meals which are mostly common
within the Persian new year too; Vegetable Rice with fish. They used
to think that’s a christian trasition which got to be a persian habit
for all Iranians too. But later they realised there is not such foods
in Armenia. They’re only Iranian Armenians who love to make Iranian
food for new year.

By the way, Iranian Christians are divided in two groups. The first
group like to celebrate Christmas. And the second group are those who
don’t celebrate Christmas. The first group usually like any kind of
celebrations and parties. So they even celebrate Persian New Year
which is at the first day of spring on March 21. The second group
neither celebrate the Georgian New year nor goes to parties. There’s
just no especial reason for that, maybe they’ve got so mixed with
the Iranian culture and persian feasts.

Well, anyhow, some of Iranian Christians celebrate Christmas with
all over the world. They decorate pine trees and all walls of house
with beautiful little colorful bulbs and papers. Nowadays some of
them use artificial trees and invite all relatives and friends for
a big party and a delicious Iranian dinner.

Some of them also don’t celebrate it as such. They have a dinner for
Jesus’s birthday and let their New year be only Persian New Year in
spring. They think cutting pine trees will destroy the nature.

Along with Iranian Christians, some Iranians from other faiths i.e
Muslims love to celebrate Christmas. Whether they want to celebrate an
international event and be part of the big world or It happens they
have Christian friends and they claim to invite them for a delicious
dinner. Regarding the fact that saying a warm Merry Christmas to
Christian friends can be joyful very often.

My Christian friends like a snowy Christmas. Indead Christmas without
snow has a missing part. Most of the time, during Christmas it’s
snowing here. Specially in north of Tehran there is usually good
snowing in winters.

With snow, i remember Papa Noel walking in the streets with his
gifts. Like those childhood cartoons that i used to watch. Maybe
there is no harm for nature that people use artificial trees instead
of having fragrance of fresh pine at home.

I don’t know how many little match-sellers in Hans Christian Andersen’s
stories stay alive under snow. When there’s snowing, I always remember
those homless poor people too..

Let’s hope for good. Let’s hope that every kind of new years, Persian,
Islamic, jewish and Georgian bring us the good news of a union
against injustice. Let’s hope for a world without poverty, ignorance
and fanatism. Let’s wish our best wishes for our generation and the
coming generations after us that they identify their purpose of being
and help make this world a more tolerable one in which to breathe.

Christmas is coming again. I’m getting ready to call my Christian
friends 5 days after new year. Let me tell you right now, from an
Iranian Muslim woman to Iranians and all people around the world
who will be light-hearted, at least for some days, for some hours,
for a moment or as long as a smile: "Merry Christmas to You all.."