Culture et Fêtes Persanes

Gold-and-black Persian lacquer pen box by Fathallah Shirazi, made in Iran in 1881–82

What Is a Qalamdan? The Persian Pen Case as Art

A qalamdan was a portable Persian writing kit and a canvas for lacquer painting. Discover what it held, how it was made, and why surviving Safavid and Qajar pen cases...

What Is a Qalamdan? The Persian Pen Case as Art

A qalamdan was a portable Persian writing kit and a canvas for lacquer painting. Discover what it held, how it was made, and why surviving Safavid and Qajar pen cases...

Tenth-century brass horary quadrant from Nishapur, Iran, with incised scales and markings

Persian Numbers ۰–۹: How to Read Numerals and D...

Learn the Persian digits ۰–۹, how they differ from Arabic numeral forms, why numbers keep their order in right-to-left text, and how to read Persian dates.

Persian Numbers ۰–۹: How to Read Numerals and D...

Learn the Persian digits ۰–۹, how they differ from Arabic numeral forms, why numbers keep their order in right-to-left text, and how to read Persian dates.

Persian feast scene from the Shah Tahmasp Shahnama, painted in Tabriz around 1525

What Is a Sofreh? The Persian Dining Cloth Expl...

Discover what a Persian sofreh is, from everyday family meals to Haft-Seen, wedding, and community ceremonial spreads.

What Is a Sofreh? The Persian Dining Cloth Expl...

Discover what a Persian sofreh is, from everyday family meals to Haft-Seen, wedding, and community ceremonial spreads.

Open Iranian calendar showing Persian, Zoroastrian, Islamic, and Gregorian dates

Persian Days of the Week: Shanbeh to Jomeh Expl...

Learn the seven Persian weekday names—from shanbeh to jomeh—with pronunciation, meanings, calendar order, and useful Farsi examples.

Persian Days of the Week: Shanbeh to Jomeh Expl...

Learn the seven Persian weekday names—from shanbeh to jomeh—with pronunciation, meanings, calendar order, and useful Farsi examples.

Illuminated Persian manuscript frontispiece with gold, blue, and floral ornament, made in Isfahan around 1600

What Is Tazhib? Persian Manuscript Illumination...

Tazhib is the Persian art of illuminating manuscripts with gold, color, geometry, and floral ornament. Learn how to recognize the craft and read an illuminated page.

What Is Tazhib? Persian Manuscript Illumination...

Tazhib is the Persian art of illuminating manuscripts with gold, color, geometry, and floral ornament. Learn how to recognize the craft and read an illuminated page.

Close view of colorful handwoven Persian termeh fabric motifs in Yazd, Iran

What Is Termeh? The Persian Textile of Yazd Exp...

Termeh is a richly patterned Persian textile associated with Yazd. Learn how woven boteh motifs, silk and wool, and Qajar court culture shaped its story.

What Is Termeh? The Persian Textile of Yazd Exp...

Termeh is a richly patterned Persian textile associated with Yazd. Learn how woven boteh motifs, silk and wool, and Qajar court culture shaped its story.