Search

2014/12/24

Christmas in Sweden

Hi everyone!
It has been long time that I didn't updated here. the main reason is when you don't have any reader you are not motivated to write. but I would try to write again and the best time is Christmas Holidays.
Christmas is a very important time in Sweden as well as other Christian countries. Yes, I know Sweden is not counted as a religion base country but anyway this tradition remains.
Christmas tradition in Sweden is originated from Yule, a winter ceremony from viking era. this is why Christmas time in Sweden is called Jul (Yule).
Cheristmas Eve on 24th of December is called Julafton so everyone goes to his/her family and celebrate together with mass of food. usually the food table called "Julbord". People starts eating around lunch time. Food is varied from Cold dishes to warm dishes. At 3 p.m everyone will sit in front of TV to watch "from all of us to all of you" ( in Swedeish: Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar God Jul. English: Duck Donald and his friends wish you a merry christmas.). Yes! it is a very popular tradition! you can not be in Sweden in Christmas Eve and do not watch "Kalle".

Merry Chrsitmas
Marmar

2013/04/16

Media's perspective about Iran (1)

Hello everyone!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, It seems spring is more close to us here in Sweden. Today the weather is so nice, little bit foggy but warm enough and less wind. 
Last two days I was completely involved in a big discussion at virtual Iranian community. What was that about? good question. There is all about Media's perspective about Iran. Last few years Media all around the world broadcasted many programs about Iran and Iranian. the problem that usually make Iranian angry is none of them are fare. It is what most Iranian how live abroad has clamed. Is it true? 
hmmm, To some extent I agree with my fellows but not that much. As I mentioned before, Iran is a very big country, has a great population and is a very multi -cultural country. So I can understand that a tourist, reporter or politician can not cover all Iranian culture, Ethnics, Cliamte, life styles , etc. However, some reports and documents just cover the worse part of everything in Iran which make people so much angry and dissappointed. 
On Sunday evening, one of swedish chanel (SVT2) broadcasted a documentry about Iran. It is made by a deaf group of swedish teenagers about situation of deaf people in Iran. It has 6 episode and T.V has shown just two of them. However, Iranian in sweden became too much angry because they think it is not the real Iran and Iranian life style. They beilieve these young tourists are teasing our culture , food, traditions and they are so rude and unrespectful.

Yes! the problem for my fellows are always this: It is Not real Iran! We had a storm about Argo a few months ago and people had clamed the same: It is not real Iran and Iranian! 
So I think we need to explain more, what is a real Iran? can be a small part of Iran a  represntative of whole country and culture? absolutely not!
In my opinion no one can cover whole the culture and People in any country especially big multicultural cuntries! (  Even we ,Iranian, can not claim that we know all about neither or country or different culture. We can not claim any of us is a representative of an Iranian culture (which is not one thing)   Iranian life style and the all classes of Society.) 
Anyway, Im goning to write about this documentry and all debates  more in future. 

Cheers
Marmar

2013/04/09

Is spring on Way?




I supposed to write a day after my first post but unfortunately I was so busy with Persian new year eve and then sickness. So, I didn't have time to write more about Nowrooz! now it is 20 days left! and Nowrooz Holiday is finished in Iran last week. So probably I will write about it next year:))

Spring is not yet come to Sweden although most part of the snow is melted. Swedes believe that spring starts when , at least, one week the temperature at night be above zero. So, according to swedish weather forecast website, we don't have plus degree at nights untill next week. However , in the middle of April it will be warm and warmer ( hopefully).
I like winter in Sweden, short days and long nights has no bad effect on me, and I love snow. But, when it prolongs to more than 5 month then it will be annoying. I'm tired of wearing two or three shirts and use the winter dawn jacket. The most annoying part is that early in the morning and late at night the temperature is around -7 and in the middle of the day it goes to + 8 . I usually leave home early in the morning so I need to put on all my winter clothes to protect myself from chilly weather, then a  few hours later it becomes so warm and I have to take off some of my clothes. When I return back home it is almost 11 at night and the temperature is again minus so I have to put on all my clothes. It means everyday I have to have a big back pack with me to full and empty it with different kind of clothes.

Don't think it will be finished when spring starts, because you never know about the weather in Sweden. as I remember in last three years I always have to carry on some extra clothes with me even in Summer . Anyway I'm really waiting for Spring and nice weather.

2013/03/19

Introduction


My name is Marmar and I’m from Iran which is pronounced as” Eeran” not “Airan”. Probably most of you know where it is located but for those who do not know anything about Iran or cannot make a difference between Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia , etc. I have to say that it is located in Asia continent and in Middle East region. It is quite a large country and has a powerful historical background. Our language is Farsi or Persian but not Arabic. We have the same root, and almost same alphabet and hand writing but there are two different languages.  Many Peopled asked me what is a difference between Farsi and Persian? In real there is no difference. Iranian origin is from a nation which is called Pars( in English Persia) and the language was called Parsi ( in English Persian). When Muslim’s troop invaded Iran (almost 15 centuries ago) the official language turned to Arabic. There is   lack of 4 alphabets in Arabic compare to Parsi and one of them is “P” , so Arabs couldn’t say Parsi but Farsi. Then it remains in our language even when A great poet “ Ferdosi”  retrieve Parsi and it becomes Iranian official language not as pure as before but mix with Arabic words. But still we called It Farsi. Iran has a diverse climate and regions; there are both green regions with dense forests and huge deserts. It has several lakes rivers and a sea. You can find humid and dry, warm and cold, mountainous and flat regions in different part of the country. I myself are originally from north of Iran which is the most green part of Iran. My hometown is called Lahijan and it is located in Gilan Province.  Around 30 kilometer south of Caspian ( Khazar) Sea. My city is famous for its Tea fields. A unique characteristic of my hometown is that there is a mountain in the middle of the city. So you can imagine that where ever your eyes turn you can see tea bushes all around. But frankly speaking it is not exactly like this, due to constructions. Unfortunately city growths last 10years and people need accommodation so they ruined many tea bushes and construct many buildings instead.  Anyway, I will write more about my country and hometown later. Today that I’ve start blogging in English is the last Day of Solar calendar which is official calendar in Iran, It means tomorrow is Iranians new year eve which is Called “Nowrouz”. It is not only Iranian new year it is all those people who speaks Persian such as Afghans, Tajiks and even Kurds ( although their language is not Persian) . So I prefer to say it is Persian’s new year.  Tomorrow  I will write about the meaning of Nowrouz and its tradition.

Cheers
Marmar