Tehran city, Iran

We are one day closer to 2021! Today’s gifting suggestions come to us from Iran via Ali Mehran, BA ’72 (Philosophy) and current students Sahar Ebrahimi and Taha Mirghorbani . Following their personal gift picks, Ali, Sahar and Taha have also shared some information about popular gifting holidays in Iran.

 Ali Mehran is a writer, editor, and translator who has spent two decades as editor for news publications including Tehran Times and Financial Asia. He is currently Senior Editor and International News Editor for Iran Daily, the first full-color English newspaper of Iran. Iran Daily covers domestic (Iran) and foreign news and includes reportage and analysis related to politics; economy; society; art and culture; tourism; science, and sports.

Sahar Ebrahimi is a graduate student in the UO School of Law’s Conflict and Dispute Resolution program. She is from Shiraz, a city known as both the home of the poet Hafez and a gateway to the ancient Achaemenid capital of Persepolis. Sahar’s primary academic/career interest is family conflict resolution. She enjoys meditation, yoga, playing the tar (an Iranian stringed instrument which also has ties to Shiraz),  and dancing. Sahar  is a recipient of the Global Corners Award, which provides tuition support to new and continuing international students who contribute to campus diversity and internationalization.

Taha Mirghorbani is a junior business administration student with a focus on business operations and analytics. He is currently a quantitative methods research consultant and earlier this year, he conducted research for UO’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.  He has served as a tutor and peer mentor and is currently the International Peer Mentor Program’s Finance Executive as well as the Trasurer of the Persian Students Association.  His interests include sports;  art; traveling; music; gaming; history; artifacts; food; natural environment; Islam; poetry; cooking, and storytelling. Taha is a recipient of the highly competitive International Cultural Service Program scholarship.  

The following is Ali Mehran’s brief writeup on gifting in Iran, with edits to include inputs from Shar and Taha: 

In some ways the tradition of gift giving in Iran is similar to the West, and in other ways it is not.

For example, to throw a birthday party, with cakes and candles and giving gifts is very Western, and in Iran it is the same. A father will be glad to receive a shirt from a son, or vice-versa.

Norouz, which begins on the first day of spring (March 21st), is a time of renewal, revival, and hope. It is a time to visit each other, without gift giving, except in the case of children. Adults give children brand new, crisp, money notes (bills), which the children can spend as they please. Children come to expect such a gift, especially from an aunt or uncle, or someone who traditionally gives to them. Charitable giving happens on Norouz as well.

Chaharshanbe Suri or the Festival of Fire is a holiday that takes place just prior to Norouz. Homes are cleaned and bonfires are lit (and jumped over) as final purifications before the new year. Special dishes are shared and children visit homes wearing disguises and banging spoons to receive packages of sweets and snacks. 

Shabe Yalda, or Yalda night, takes place on the winter solstice (December 21st). Again, gifts are not given, but nuts, pomegranate, and watermelon are given/shared. The longest night of the year is traditionally spent enjoying these items and reciting the poetry of  Divan-e Hafez (known by some in the U.S. and elsewhere as Hafiz).

In general, Islam makes a big point of giving. Some people have more than they need, and some people have less. Those who have more should give five percent of their income, or whatever they have, to the poor. This is known as zakat.

Perhaps the biggest day for this is Eide Fitr, a celebration which comes at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. On that day you should give a kilo of wheat or a kilo of rice, or its equivalent in money, to those in need. Of course, you can give more if you wish.

Another significant day for giving to the community is Ashura (on August 18th in 2021). This day is celebrated/observed differently in different communities. For the Shi’a Muslims in Iran, it marks the day that the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Husayn ibn Ali was martyred in the late seventh century C.E. Families and organizations prepare large meals called nazri which are considered holy and offered free to the public. Nazri distribution – which is more of a community ritual than an act of giving from one person or group to another –  is just one way remembrance and reverence are expressed on this day.

One problem is to find those in need, and this work is done by charities, which will collect money and distribute it to the poor. For example, on Eide Fitr, which is a holiday, there are stands throughout the city where one can donate.

If someone travels, they should bring a small gift, usually what is peculiar to the place visited. For example, if you were to travel to Isfahan, you would bring some gaz, which is a nougat candy special to Isfahan. Isfahan is also famous for handicrafts; so you could also bring any handcraft from Isfahan – a plate, a vase or jewelry.

Women are always glad to receive a bottle of perfume, especially from France, on any occasion, especially on Valentine’s Day, which has caught on in Iran.

What Iran does not have is a special time of year like Christmas when everyone gives gifts that are gift-wrapped and placed under a tree.