Alam Vachini

HARVEST CREEMONY (ALAM-VACHINI)

Was done in mountainous areas after harvest of wheat and barely, and in plain areas after harvest of rice to help farmers for getting money. They were usually held in Friday and Monday and people were informed by the “Bogheh” or “religious tomb” custodian. Every Bogheh had some people who their families were buried around and they were called as “Tekieh-sharik” (who shared in Tekieh). They helped the Bogheh custodian to aid for harvest ceremony. People got to gather around the grave yard where many old trees spread shade for them and it was very scared in their opinion. People wore their best local clothes.
Their clothes mostly white and had been sewed by some colorful ribbon. Golden or silver coins were also sewed around their waist and collars. Middle-aged women wore a black cloth called “Lachak” and a white one on it. They wore the same as the girls but simpler than them. They wore a kind of necklace carrying gold and silver coins which there were a kind of jeweler in the middle of them called as (Vaseteh-Al Aghd) and Gilak called it “Sheveh” made of Aghigh.
The young boys wore a kind of clothes called as “Las-pareh”, a black closefitting pants and were taped on both sides and a red shirt with coin buttons. Their collar was sewed from left to right. Boys wore a shawl around their waist called as “Golbandy shawl” and a vest and carried a stick from Medlar called Konous Kachak. They also wore a hat from left. They always wore it and it was impolite to go out without wearing it.The family sometimes spread a durries rug in a shadow place and had fun. Some vendors also came to there and spread their goods there to sell them. And then Tekieh-Sharik and the land owners came with glory accompanying by their family their spleen did clothes. Girls who their marriage is near went to the Bogheh to give their charitable offering (Nazri), in cash or by wooden knitting. They put it on the chest of Bogheh. Other pilgrims who lived in mountainous areas brought their milk of that day for the Bogheh as Nazri. In the afternoon the harvest was done the youth lifted a kind of thing called (Alam) made of nudge tree to honor the people (especially youth) who had died during that year. They tied the dead’s clothes to the alam and decorated by some ribbons or tapes to remind their mourning, a sort of family mourning. Opening their clothes from the alam had also a ceremony. Their family mourned when the alam came out from the bogheh. The bogheh custodian recited elegies on Imam Hosein and youth and children came over and touch their tree branches and grass to the alam to sactify them. They did not put them on the ground till to feed their farm animals with them.

Sizdeh Sal (Sizdeh be dar)

SIZDEH-SAL (SIZDEH-BE-DAR)

It is the last ceremony of Norouz. In this day, people of Guilan usually go to the woods or near the rivers and get together to have fun. Guilanean girls tie grass in this day.

Shal Andazi

SHAL-ANDAZI (WEARING SHAWL)

It was a common ceremony in mountainous areas at this night. It was sometimes like a proposal ceremony from the house owner. They usually tied some candy to the shawl and then they went to other houses without showing themselves.

Ghashogh Zani

GHASHOGH ZANI (CLAPPING SPOONS AGAINST TRAYS)

Another ceremony at this night is Ghashogh zani. At this night, usually single boys and girls (mostly girls) went over the neighbors, covering their face with a cloth ask them for a gift. They mostly got candy and sweet snakes.

Listening in Hidden

LISTENING IN HIDDEN

Another ceremony in Chaharshanbeh souri is to do so, they stood at the passageways and the first word that they could listen, showed their luck or bad luck.

Gol-Gol Chaharshanbeh

GOL-GOL CHAHARSHANBEH

Another ancient Iranian tradition in Guilan, which has had some changes, is (Chaharshanbeh souri). It is done in the last Tuesday of the year. To do so some bushes and hay are gathered and are fired. They usually put it towards the kiblah and jumped over it.
This tradition which is held from zoraster and even before him, mixed with people’s belief in Islamic era and changed to almost Islamic one. Firing wild rue seed is also such a tradition which people tried to buy them from Sadat (our Islam’s offspring) …
The Chaharshanbeh souri tradition is performed in all parts of Guilan nearly the same, and sometimes there shoot or used firecracker. There was also a superstition idea about blessing, a man who carrying an axe went over to a tree that didn’t give fruits, but other people asked him not to cut the tree to guarantee it for a fruitful year.

Arous Gouleh

AROUS GOULEH

Arous Gouleh is also a tradition which was performed before the New Year. This show was done with a rhythmic song with an ethical concept. There were three characters in this show; Ghoul (Giant), Peer babo (Grand father) and Naz khanom. A young boy often wore ladies clothes and acted instead of Naz khanom. Peer babo and Ghoul had a conflict for Naz khanom. Ghoul was very outlandish, with his special hat (Kolush: hat) jingler and mace. They came over to the houses and played their roles earned some gifts. Sometimes a lady named “Kass khanom” was added to this group.

Norouz Khani

NOROUZ KHANI (SINGING ABOUT NOROUZ)

Norouz khani is a tradition at the end of the year in Guilan. Norouz khani which is also now days common, is the symbol of spring arrival and its bounty. For this reason, some of these singers walk in the alleys and streets and sing some kinds of songs. The most famous of these songs are “Davazdah Imam” (12 Imams) and Arous Gouleh (a kind of show). They often sing Davazdah Imam first yard when they come to refrain, it is sung by two.

POLO

This game which is done by riding horses, was considered at the time of “Shah Abbass Saffavid”, for the first time in Guilan, which he conquered Lahijan. When “Khan Ahmad Khan” – the latest ruler of “Kiaea Bieh Piesh” escaped, his inherited properties was fallen into Saffavid hand, Shah Abbass ordered to ruin his garden and made a field for this game known as “Sabzeh meidan”.
Polo is an English word, which is originated from a “Tabasi” word – a city of Iran.

Gilemardi Wrestling

GIL-E-MARDI WRESTLING

This kind of wrestling which is done now days is the symbol of bravery and formidability of this area. Gil-e-mardi wrestling has a historical root. “Zahir Al-Dean Marashi” has been mentioned, it is a custom that Deilam people (Mazanderani) anoint their youth and feed them healthy and delicious meat, honey fat … to make them stronger and prepare them to wrestle. These wrestlers have several grades as: Tangouleh or Nocheh, Pahlavan, Head Pahlavan or Miandar. This wrestling is done in an open area known as “Simbar” or “Sabzeh meidan”. This kind of wrestling is usually done in summer or festivals and wedding ceremonies. The wrestlers put on a pair of pants know as “Laspar” and bared in top, salute the viewers and show themselves by doing some actions. They call these performances “Fozoma” or “Ghezomma” after bagging, his opponent starts his wrestling by clapping. They begin firstly by punching. This may hurt one the opponents. If one of their hands touches the ground, he will defeat. The winners will be given non-cash gifts such as: cloth, mirror, shirts, sheep, cow, and so on. It is called “Baram”.

Rope Dancing

ROPE DANCING

Rope dancing is one of the tradition showing in Guilan that is held in wedding ceremony, New Year or in weekly markets. It is called “Lafand bazy” in Guilan and is the same as in circus. This show is performed on a rope, which is fastened to two metal or wooden ropes passing each other in a crisscross form. The main character is called “Pahlavan” (Hero) who walks on the ropes whit bare feet and carries a wooden stick to keep his balance. He can walk on the ropes even by putting his feet in the pots. He sometimes rides a tireless bicycle on the ropes. Putting a chair on a tray and keeping his balance on it, is the most difficult part of the show. On the ground, a person who is known as “Yalanchi” performs the same action as he does but clownery. Drummers and Sorna players also make a happy time for the people by playing their instrument.

SPRINKLING (AB-PASHAN, AB-RIZAN, TIR MASIZEH)

One of the common traditions in Gilan in the past was Sprinkling, which has been forgotten nowadays. This ceremony is known as “Tirma-sinzeh” in the east of Gilan and west of Mazandaran and perhaps, it is the very “Tirgan”. In Iran of before Islam, the 13th of each month was known as “Ab Rizan” or “Ab Pashan”. It was held until Shah Abbas dominion in Tabarestan (the old name of Mazandaran), and Gilan, but then gradually was forgotten.

In Iran, this day is known as “Ab Pashan”. Adults and children, male or female, went to the beaches and played in water. It was an interesting time. This ceremony was common in Yazd, Kerman, Isfahan, too. In 13th of Tir, men and women went to the rivers, carrying kinds of pots, and sprinkled water on each other. Zakaria Qazvini –the writer of “Ajayeb Al Khelgheh”(“The Freaks of Nature”)- has mentioned a ceremony known as “Ab Pashan”. This ceremony was originated by Firooz –Anooshiravan’s ancestor- people prayed in famine and hunger and sprinkled water on each other in bless of rain at that time.


AYNEH TAKAM

Another ceremony which was held before new year was puppet show known as “Ayneh Takam” and done in western parts of Gilan. Takam players –“Takam Chis”- went to Hashtpar, and even Anzali and Rasht from Azerbaijan and brought people the message of new year.
Takam was a puppet like a goat which had a handle and was decorated by some clothes and colorful catapults and feathers. They moved it up and down by that handle which was passed through a holed wood. They hit two wooden rods together and sang carols to make a happy time.