10 Cultural Traditions Unique to us

Taarof is a traditional cultural practice that remains prevalent across all segments of society. This longstanding tradition stems from the ethical conduct of our past. Perhaps every tourist visiting the country witnesses this practice multiple times—in taxis, when settling restaurant bills, or while shopping in markets, especially if the seller and customer are somewhat acquainted. They might hear the famous phrase, “Ghaabel nadaareh” (“It’s not worthy of you”). In our country, sellers and buyers, or sometimes friends and relatives, engage in taarof when settling payments. The seller says, “It’s not worthy of you,” and the customer responds, “The owner needs it.” This cultural practice is observed in all cities of Iran and is one of the traditions that reflects the ethics and character of our people.

Disclaimer: Our cultural tradition is very diverse due to the different ethnic groups living in our country, which is part of the unified cultural tradition. These traditions, which come from our culture of thousands of years ago, are still intact. It is true that under the influence of the global village, parts of global cultures have been formed, with media playing the most significant role. However, despite all these changes, traditions have not only been preserved in our country but also in other parts around the world.

April 19, 2025 | 5:59 am