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Let’s Celebrate Yalda, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza – 2014

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Happy Yalda, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa. 

The Yalda festival was a Mithraic celebration, which finds its origins among the earliest Iranians. But in 53 BCE, when Roman legions were unable to conquer Parthian Mithraists, they adopted Mithra the “Unconquered Sun” as their own military deity, and Yalda or “Yule” became an official celebration of the Roman Empire.

Many of the original pagan symbols survive in what has come to be known as Christmas such as: holly, ivy, the color red, the mistletoe, Yule logs, the giving of gifts, decorated evergreen trees, Santa Claus, etc..

Christmas Day (December 25th) is a Christian holiday which is celebrated around the world by decorating Christmas trees, attending church, traditional food, and exchanging gifts.

Kwanzaa is an African American holiday celebrated by millions of people in the United States.  It is a week long holiday, observed from December 26th to January 1st every year. 

Hanukkah (also known as Chanukah) is an eight-day festival of lights and a Jewish holiday.  It commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BC.  It begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev and usually falls in November or December.  Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days and nights with the lightening of the menorah, food, and gifts. 

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Happy Cyrus the Great Day

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happy cyrus day 2This year, the twenty-ninth day of October 2014, coincides with the annual celebration of “Cyrus the Great Day” by Iranian people and many friends of culture across the globe. In 2005, the Pasargad Heritage Foundation – the first international NGO for preservation of the cultural heritage of Iran- that introduced the idea. At the time, Cyrus’ mausoleum in Iran- a monument registered on the UNESCO’s world heritage list – was in danger of being inundated and eventually destroyed. However, the hard work of this Foundation and timely intervention of UNESCO, human rights activists and organizations removed the danger and led to a world-wide recognition of Cyrus’ seminal contribution to the survival of our common human civilization. Such recognition has been further evidenced by the exhibition of Cyrus cylinder in a number of museums in major cities in United States of America. 

Happy cyrus day

October 29, the “Cyrus the Great Day” and the anniversary of the first declaration of human rights. Twenty six centuries ago, when savagery was the dominant factor in human societies, a civilized and compassionate declaration was written on clay and issued to the “four corners of the world”, addressing important issues relevant to human rights; the very same issues that today we face and could also inspire and mobilize those who believe in human dignity and rights. 

This document, known as “The Declaration of Cyrus the Great,” emphasized the removal of all racial discrimination and slavery, and bestowing to all people, freedom to choose their places of residence, and practice their own chosen faith and religion, therefore, attempting to create peace amongst all nations. This Declaration could actually be considered a present from the Iranian people to all humanity, expressed through the words of Cyrus, the founder of the first empire in the Iran. In 1971, the general assembly of the United Nations recognized this declaration as the first Declaration of Human Rights.

From savepasargad.com

UNESCO Sites: Summer Vacation Anyone?

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It’s summer and UNESCO has got vacation plans for you. Every year, more and more tourists are traveling around the globe visiting historical sites and many UNESCO World Heritage sites. In fact, with many countries like China adding more tourists to the total global tourism, it is not a big surprise that UNESCO decided to create a new program with a partner.

The small-ship cruise line Seabourn is in a new partnership with UNESCO and they have tourismcreated a new program that offers increased access to the organization’s diverse World Heritage sites such as Avignon, France, the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland and Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg.The new partnership, announced last month (June 2014) and beginning with itineraries departing on or after Aug. 1, is expected to raise $1 million over six years by charging passengers $5 to $10 extra for World Heritage tours. The donations will be earmarked for preservation work by UNESCO.

In exchange, the Seabourn Cruise line gains access to World Heritage experts for its on-board speaker roster. Speakers will include experts who have undertaken UNESCO World Heritage Center work, including those who established guidelines for inscription, and evaluated them as archaeologists, art and architecture historians and geologists.

On shore, Seabourn plans to offer special World Heritage Discovery Tours developed with UNESCO site managers. Although many of the tours are still under development, tours may include traditional musical performances, meetings with preservationists and more tours that include the experts. Seabourn already offers visits to roughly 150 UNESCO World Heritage sites annually on its sailings.

Celebrating Nowruz at World Cultural Heritage Sites

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T.j-wchv-2During the last decade, Iranians have become gradually more aware of pre-Islamic period of their history despite the policy of Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) tainting that period with obscurity and misleading messages. The result has been the renewed public interest in ancient intangible cultural heritage on the one hand, and a ever-increasing internal tourism and visitors to the ancient Persian sites.

One of the main occasions in this respect is the Iranian New Year, known as Nowruz (or the New Day) that begins at spring equinox. Over the past decade, the number of visitors to sites such as Pasargad and Perspolis has increased ten-fold. While the IRI cultural authorities have not been able to erase the physical reminiscences of the past due to the efforts of Iranians outside the country and the pressure of the international organizations, they have become more and more restrictive against such visits, especially during the Nowruz holidays.

This year the Pasargad site was totally closed to the hundreds of visitors who had come from many parts of the country. They had come to be present around the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great, when the equinox moment arrived and the Iranian New Year began

Cyrus the Great is now recognized as the father of Nation by many Iranians.

As the equinox was to arrive late at night this year, all the lights in the Pasargad area were switched off and the site was totally in darkness. From the early morning, the guards had walked amongst the visitors and had confiscated cameras. Nevertheless, people stayed right behind the fences, singing and chanting. In some instances, there were signs of anger but there was an overall mood of happiness and celebration in the gathering that was shaped in such a surreal setting.  In fact, it has been reported by many news outlets that many historical heritage sites had record number of visitors in the first few days of the New Year and Perspolis reportedly had the highest number of visitors. 

Persepolis which literary means the “City of Persians” was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire.  Persepolis is situated 70 km northeast of city of Shiraz in the Fars Province in Iran.

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Happy Nowruz, Dear Friends and Supporters

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Dear Friends and Supporters,

haftsin-2As the beginning of spring is fast approaching we once again reiterate our commitment to continue our efforts on behalf of preservation of World National Heritage.  We believe that it is not only our duty to preserve and restore World Heritage for future generations, but we must inform and actively seek support for those sites in countries which have been ignored and forgotten because of ongoing conflict, war, and discrimination.  As our friends and supporters, you have stood by us, supported us and we thank you.  It is only through our collective work that we can accomplish what we must do so that future generations know about the beautiful man-made sites as well as natural sites of our beautiful planet Earth.  Spring once again reminds us of that.  In addition, we would like to wish you a happy and joyful Nowruz, celebration of the beginning of the Persian New Year.  Nowruz coincides with the beginning of spring (March 21st), a day that has been recognized on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2009.

Happy Nowruz and Happy Spring.

Cyrus the Great Day:Common Ground for World Religions?

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Kristin-S-portrait-2-239x300Article by: Kristin Swenson, Ph.D.

On Oct. 29, in 539 B.C., Cyrus II rode into Babylon (about 50 miles south of modern Baghdad), and ancient sources say that its conquered masses threw palm fronds at his feet. Among the people who witnessed his arrival were those who had been taken captive some 50 years earlier when the Babylonian empire swept through the Middle East, destroying nations and dragging captives back to Babylon. They included people from ancient Israel who had witnessed the destruction not only of their nation, Judah, but also of its temple in Jerusalem. “By the rivers of Babylon,” a biblical psalm laments, “we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.”
Cyrus allowed those exiles to return home, to rebuild their communities and to reestablish their religious practices. Excerpt from Huffington Post

Happy Cyrus the Great Day

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This year, the twenty-ninth day of October 2013, coincides with the annual celebration of “Cyrus the Great Day” by Iranian people and many friends of culture across the globe. In 2005, the Pasargad Heritage Foundation – the first international NGO for preservation of the cultural heritage of Iran- that introduced the idea. At the time, Cyrus’ mausoleum in Iran- a monument registered on the UNESCO’s world heritage list – was in danger of being inundated and eventually destroyed. However, the hard work of this Foundation and timely intervention of UNESCO, human rights activists and organizations removed the danger and led to a world-wide recognition of Cyrus’ seminal contribution to the survival of our common human civilization. Such recognition has been further evidenced by the exhibition of Cyrus cylinder in a number of museums in major cities in United States of America. 

 

October 29, the “Cyrus the Great Day” and the anniversary of the first declaration of human rights. Twenty six centuries ago, when savagery was the dominant factor in human societies, a civilized and compassionate declaration was written on clay and issued to the “four corners of the world”, addressing important issues relevant to human rights; the very same issues that today we face and could also inspire and mobilize those who believe in human dignity and rights. 

This document, known as “The Declaration of Cyrus the Great,” emphasized the removal of all racial discrimination and slavery, and bestowing to all people, freedom to choose their places of residence, and practice their own chosen faith and religion, therefore, attempting to create peace amongst all nations. This Declaration could actually be considered a present from the Iranian people to all humanity, expressed through the words of Cyrus, the founder of the first empire in the Iran. In 1971, the general assembly of the United Nations recognized this declaration as the first Declaration of Human Rights.

From savepasargad.com

The Saga of Taksim Square

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TaksimMany protesters and supporters of NGOs that work for the preservation of environment are still present in Taksim Square, in the heart of Istanbul, Turkey. The protesters are angered by the Turkish government’s decision to destroy Gezi Park (adjacent to the Square) for new commercial developments. Taksim is a part of Turkish history and a tourist attraction as well as a recreational place with shops, hotels, and restaurants. The beautiful Gezi Park is a major part of the complex.

Turkish people are very keen on their cultural, historic and environmental heritage. In addition to the knowledge they have gained during the last several decades in regards to the importance of their heritage, they are aware of the economic impact that tourist attractions have on their livelihood.  Turkey is amongst the ten first countries that generate income out of their tourism industry.

Thus, it is no surprise when thousands of people show up to answer the call to stop the demolition of the park. They gather in Taksim to “Save the Endangered Trees”. Other proposed changes to several historic sites and monuments, including the heritage of Kamal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, has added to the angry protests in many other cities as well. Click on this video link to see protestors in action.