Culture

The Iraq Modern covers almost the same area of Ancient Mesopotamia, which was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Also called the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia was an important cradle of civilizations and has seen the rise and fall of many cultures. In the Middle Ages, Iraq was the name of an Arab province that today is the southern half of the current country.

Today, the Republic of Iraq, where Islam is the official religion of the state and is the belief of 95% of the population, most Iraqis identify with Arab culture. The second largest Iraqi cultural group are the Kurds, which are in the north in a politically autonomous region. Kurds occupy the provinces of As Sulaymaniyah, Dahuk and Irbil, area called Kurdistan.

Handicraft

There is the ancient art of traditional handicrafts Iraq, of which the best examples are the carpets. In large cities, very busy bazaars and markets are the best places to do shopping, with many kinds of oriental articles. Clothes, shoes, cosmetics, antiques and jewelry are the main products sold. There are even targeted markets for the sale of animals.

Literature

Beyond crafts, Iraqis are facing the literature, both prose and poetry. Noteworthy are the writers Nazik al-Malaaikah, Saadi Youssef, Fadhil Al-Azzawi, Mushin Al-Ramli, Salah Al-Hamdani and Sherko Fatah.

Painting, sculpture and film

In sculpture and painting highlights Khaled al-Rahhal, Jawad Salim, Akram Shukri and Hafidh al-Durubi. The Iraqi film was developed in the 1940s Baghdad The studio was established in 1948. In 1959 came the General Organization for Cinema and Theatre, and films and documentaries were made with the government incentive. There is therefore a long tradition of cinema.

Museums

In Baghdad there are several museums dedicated to national culture, such as the Museum of National Customs and Folklore, the People’s Heritage Museum and the Baghdad Museum with rich craft collections, maps, paintings, clothing and scenes of everyday life. To learn more about the Museum of Baghdad, go http://www.baghdadmuseum.org

Culinary

The Iranian cuisine was traditionally developed from ancient Mesopotamia (Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, Assyria) and is considered one of the oldest in the world. Check out some of Iraq’s typical dishes:

Marag: bean stew with meat called fasolla

Masgouf: dish made with fish from the Tigris. Fish is open and stuffed with tamarind, pepper and spices.

Music and Dance

The traditional Iraqi music is composed of instruments like flutes, violins, drums and tambourines. However, there are many new artists in pop music, rap and other genres. Umm Kulthum and Fairouz are two renowned singers, well known for their voices. The very modern guitar is an evolution of Iraq’s former guitar. The most famous dance is the belly, not forgetting the typical and folkloric dances.

Parties

Regarding Iraqi parties, there is a predominance of mixing religions:

Muslims: celebrate the end of fasting of Ramadam, the month in which it is believed that the Quran was sent down from heaven as guidance to men and means to salvation.

Kurds: celebrate Nowruz, which is the spring reception and the start of the Kurdish and Persian New Year.

Clothing

Iraqis an open country and used clothes are normal.

Kurds: use a wide pants, shirt and waistband.

Dishdasha: dress kind that men use with a turban.

Lower: type of burqa that women use more without closing the face.