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Iranian/Persian Community

Iranian Community in Hamilton | General Information about Iran

Iranian Community in Hamilton

  • Population in Canada:

    Approximately 1 million in North America and 62,385 (96 est)Canada.

  • Population in Ontario:

    around 200,000

  • Population in Hamilton:

    around 1,000.

  • Major Languages:

    English, Persian, Azeri, Turkish, Belochi

Common Foods

Sovlaki Sovlaki Zeresh palao Zeresh palao Palao food Palao food Dry fruit Dry fruit Ice cream Ice cream

The major foods in the Iranian community are noodle soup, sabzi Palaow which is rice with vegetables, dates and raisins, or rice with barberries, candied orange peels and carrots. Wheat sprout pudding, also called samanak, is popular. Zereshk Palaow is another type of rice made with fruit and spices. Iranian community members in Hamilton usually prepare Zereshk palaw at community events and celebrations.

The Iranian community celebrates Norouz, Eid, Ashura and different Islamic holidays.

Traditional Clothing

Family clothing Family clothing Female clothing Female clothing Men clothing Men clothing Musicians Musicians

http://www.persianmirror.com/culture/fashion/fashion.cfm Islamic attire is considered to be the code for all women throughout the country, in which the hair, arms and legs must not be revealed.

Men's clothing is traditionally simple and light colored, made of cotton.

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Art and Culture

Female musician Female musician Ismail Asari's art Ismail Asari's art Contemporary Iranian art Contemporary Iranian art Dry fruit Dry fruit Azima Mahin's art Azima Mahin's art Azima'a Mahin's art Azima'a Mahin's art Ismail Asgari Ismail Asgari Traditional musicians Traditional musicians Modern miniature Modern miniature

Iran has one of the richest art heritages in the world in all major disciplines including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and stone masonry.

  • Local Artists:

    Hussain is a young Iranian Canadian painter who has come to Canada in 2004. Hussian is a member of the Immigrant Culture and Art Association.

  • Music:

    Tarab, Navakhteh, Tasneef, Taraneh or more recently Muzi are popular. There is also much popular folk music: Kurdish, Bakhtiari and Baluchi. Also Mazadaran, Bandari, and Rock music, as well as new pop music are popular.

  • Visual Arts:

    Iran has a long history of art, music, architecture, poetry, philosophy, traditions, and ideology. Many Iranians believe their culture to be the one and only reason why their civilization has continuously survived thousands of years of turmoil.

  • Iranian Community in Hamilton:

  • Ethnic businesses in Hamilton:

    Businesses such as Hakim Optical, Future Shop, many restaurants, carpet stores and grocery stores are owned by Iranian-Canadians. Iranian Canadians in Hamilton also work in social services, the not-for-profit sector, teach at colleges and universities, deliver pizza and own antique stores.

  • Areas of residence of the community's members in Hamilton:

    The community is spread out across the city. Recent immigrants are usually settle in the downtown area whereas older immigrants choose to live in the escarpment region.

  • Musical instruments:

    The names of the most popular Iranian musical instruments are Sitar, Tombak, Ney, Tar, Santur, Kamancheh, Ud and the Tanbur

Tombak Tombak Santur Santur Setar Setar Tar Tar Ud Ud Kamancheh Kamancheh Kamoncheh Kamoncheh Ney Ney

General Information about Iran

  • Location:

    Iran borders Azerbaijan (length of border: 432 km / 268 mi) and Armenia (35 km / 22 mi) to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan (992 km / 616 mi) to the northeast, Pakistan (909 km / 565 mi) and Afghanistan (936 km / 582 mi) to the east, Turkey (499 km / 310 mi) and Iraq (1,458 km / 906 mi) to the west, and finally the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south. Smaller than the province of Quebec.

  • Climate:

    mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

  • Capital City:

    Tehran

  • Major Languages:

    Persian, Azeri, Kurdish, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Luri, Turkmen, Bakhtiari and Arabic.

  • Celebrations:

    Iranian New Year Norouz - Is celebrated on March 21. Other Islamic Holidays are celebrated as well

  • National Symbols:

    Some of the national symbols include Derafsh Kaviani, Flag of Iran, Griffin, The Lion and the Sun, Mount Damavand, Norouz, The Persian Gulf and Simorgh.

    The National Flag The National Flag

    THorizontally divided green-white-red with a red emblem in the center and stylized writings on the horizontal edges of the white stripe. The hoist of the Iranian flag should be at the viewer's right, as it is the case for Saudi Arabia and Iraq, two other flags featuring Arabic writing (which read from right to left). Symbolism: Green: for the Islamic religion, White: for peace, Red: for courage

  • National anthem:

    "Sorood-e Melli-e Jomhoori-e Eslami-e Iran" or "Sorood-e Melli-ye Jomhoori-ye Eslami-ye Iran"listen

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