2021 Travel the World - Week 13

I started a 50-week series in 2019 that I called Travel the World. Each week of the series I visited a randomly-selected country, sharing bits of information about that country. I then chose one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. As I explored those 50 countries in 2019, I knew I would continue on until I've visited every one of the 195 countries in the world, so I continued the series in 2020 and here I am in 2021, the third year of traveling the world. 

This week's country is...

Iran

Iran is a country located in the Middle East and Asia, that was known as Persia for thousands of years until 1935.

The names Iran and Persia are still interchanged in cultural contexts but Iran is always used in political contexts. 

Iran ranks 18th largest country in the world. It is slightly smaller than Alaska.

Iran shares borders with ten countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq and Turkey.

Almost half of the country has a desert climate, receiving less than 4" of precipitation per year.

Almost 70 percent of the population of Iran is under 30 years of age.

Iran’s capital and largest city, Tehran, has some of the worst air pollution in the world. An estimated 27 people die a day from air pollution-related diseases

Iran has eight main rivers, but only one of them - the Karun River - is accessible to boats, and only for short distances at that.

Iran is home to the highest population of refugees in the world. 

Iran ranks second in the world's natural gas reserves and fourth in proven crude oil reserves. Both are essential in the government revenues and overall economic activity of the country.

Fesenjan is a gourmet dish of meat and beans with a walnut sauce served with fried onion on top. It is served with rice.

Iranian cuisine benefits from the influence of all the different cultures and ethnic groups in its melting pot. Herbs are used for seasoning, along with fruits like as quince, plums, prunes, pomegranates, apricots, and raisins. Iranian is caviar is also famous. Iranians eat their meals on cushions on the floor; they have no tables and chairs.

Iranians love drinking tea. Iranian tea is brewed black tea without milk. Tea is served at every gathering in Iran and most Iranians drink tea after each meal.

When invited to an Iranian’s house, the guest should bring flowers, or pastry to the hosts. When giving a gift, one should always apologize for its inadequacy!

Also, when invited to an Iranian’s house guests check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, they remove theirs at the door.

Persian culture boasts of its lush gardens, luxurious rugs, and beautiful poetry. The English term ‘paradise’ originated from a Persian word which means ‘enclosed garden.’

Poetry is very popular and special to the Iranian people. All can recite some portion of a favorite poem. Famous Western poets were influence by Persian poetry, from Ralph Waldo Emerson to Wolfgang Von Goethe.

Iran is home to the highest volcano in Asia.

Soccer is the most popular sport in Iran.

The world-famous Persian Longhair or Shiraz Cat is native to Iran. Endemic to Iran, Persian cats have distinct features of woolly fur and round, grouchy faces. It is one of the oldest cat breeds in the world.

Iran is the world's largest producer of caviar, pistachios, and saffron. 

Iranians refer to yogurt as Persian Milk.

Yogurt is almost literally used in everything in Iran. It i used s food, medicine, and even as a beauty product. Iranians believe that yogurt can make you less sleepy, treat your  ulcers, and prolong your life in general.

Iranian or Persian rugs are world famous. These world-renowned rugs have been part of the Persian culture for more than 2,500 years.

Iranian weavers make a mistake on purpose when weaving Persian rugs. This is to symbolize their belief that only God is perfect. 

Iran holds the Guinness World Record for the largest handwoven carpet.

Iran is prone to frequent and violent earthquake activity.

In December 2003 a earthquake struck the southeastern city of Bam, Iran, killing more than 30,000 people.

Iran is the only home to the critically endangered Asiatic Cheetah.

The three Bible characters who brought gifts to the newborn Christ in the Nativity story originated from Iran. 

The founder of eBay is Iranian.

In 2012, Iran’s police chief announced that Google is a tool for spying. 

In Iran, police can force a man to marry his rape victim, even against her assent. However, the rapist could divorce the victim immediately after the ceremony. This practice is in place because a divorced woman is more marriageable than a tarnished woman.

Girls are marriageable at the age of 13 and boys at 15. Iranians may vote at 15. Polygamy is legal in Iran but the limit is four wives. Once a girl is married, she may no longer attend high school.

Iran’s adult literacy rate is 93 percent, up from almost 37 percent in 1976.

Men in Iran can be arrested for wearing shorts or being shirtless.

Women and girls, including tourists, who have to wear a hijab (head covering) in public starting at the age of nine.

The first day of spring is a festive day with huge feasts. Mothers eat one hard-boiled egg per child to represent their children. They set the table with seven items that begin with the letter “s” in their native Farsi.

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about Iran... Iranian Intelligence officials arrested 14 squirrels in 2007. The officials claimed that these rodents were serving as spies for the Western enemy nations; determined to chip away at the Islamic Republic.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: The Greeting Farm Forest Friends stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Cougar 110# White and SU Cajun Craze CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles

Embellishments: Craft Essentials Ribbon and Paper Studio Mini Brads