Culture of Iraq

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The Great Ziggurat of Ur, Southern Iraq

Iraq has one of the world's oldest cultural histories. See: History of Iraq. Unlike many Arab countries, it embraces and celebrates the achievements of its past in pre-Islamic times. What is now Iraq was once part of the Cradle of Civilization in ancient Mesopotamia and the culture of Sumer, from which the first known wheel was recovered, flourished there. In the 8th century and 9th century the Islamic Abbasid Caliphs presided over what was then the world's leading civilization, rich in science, art and literature.

1 Cinema
2 Cuisine
3 Modern culture
- 3.1 Cultural heritage
4 External links

[edit] Cinema

Main Article Cinema of Iraq

[edit] Cuisine

Stuffed Masgouf ready for roasting in the oven

Main article Cuisine of Iraq

The Iraqi cuisine is generally a heavy cuisine with more spices than most Arab cuisines. Iraq's main food crops include wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, and dates. Vegetables include eggplant, okra, potatoes, and tomatoes. Beans such as chickpeas and lentils are also quite common. Common meats in Iraqi cooking are lamb and beef; fish and poultry are also used. Soups and stews are often prepared and served with rice and vegetables. Although Iraq is not a coastal area, the population is used to consuming fish, however, freshwater fish is more common than saltwater fish. Masgouf is one of the most popular dishes. Biryani, although influenced by Indian cuisine, is much milder with a different mixture of spices and a wider variety of vegetables including potatoes, peas, carrots and onions among others. Dolma is also one of the popular dishes. The Iraqi cuisine is famous for its extremely tender kabab as well as its tikka. A wide variety of spices, pickles and Amba are also extensively used.

[edit] Modern culture

[edit] Cultural heritage

Iraq is a country of a wide and varied heritage, home to Christians, Muslims, Kurds, Jews, Assyrians, and "Marsh Nomads", amongst countless others. As such, many have contributed to the wide spectrum of Iraqi Culture.

Traditional music consists of instruments such as ouds, flutes, violins, drums, and tambourines. Now however, there are many young artists generating pop, rap, and wider types of musical genres. Umm Kulthum and Fairouz are two woman singers renowned for their voices and especially cherished in Iraq. In fact, the common guitar, an American emblem, evolved from the guitar of ancient Iraq.

Tea houses are commonly scattered over Iraq, and in the afternoon it is a habit for shopkeepers to retreat into the back with a close circle of friends to sip tea over gossip, an Iraqi "siesta".

Rites of passage are mainly centered on children being schooled enough to correctly read the Quran, quite the challenging task. The Quran is perhaps one of the hardest texts to read, both because of depth of meaning and due to the difficult range of sounds Arabic demands from the human vocal cords. The child with least pronunciation errors is called the "hafiz" or "memorizer". There is usually a large celebration in the child's honor.

Marriages and births are enormous arts of Iraqi life. It is common to have hundreds of people attend weddings. Although there are some arranged marriages, a couple must agree before entering into it, and there are very low divorce rates in Iraq, though it is acceptable and fairly easy under Islamic doctrine.

Nonetheless, Arabs believe that wisdom comes with wrinkles in old age, and as such grandparents and parents are highly respected. It is seen as a huge disgrace and very embarrassing if a child publicly sasses or is rude to someone of the elder generation.

As in other Arab nations, the left hand is used for sanitary activities including the restroom, and the right hand is used for food and greeting; offering to shake with the left hand may be perceived as an insult, and eating with the left hand embarrassing. Iraqis are a very passionate people, and their conversations will often be adorned with many hand gestures.

Generosity is highly valued in Iraqi culture, and it is seen as rude to snub someone asking a favor. This is heightened especially during the month of Ramadan, when it is necessary to give zakat or donations to the poor. Many families, rich and poor alike, cook for the homeless, or even invite them to dinner. Some prepare plates of baklavah to take to them, or a dish of kebob.