Download - Iraq Cultural Scrapbook
Iraq Cultural Scrapbook
Anayeli MenchacaPeriod 3
Mr. CarnesGeography Honors
Flag of Iraq
The flags of Iraq have different designs on them, since the Kingdom of Iraq was established in 1921.
January 21st, 2008, was when the new flag was confirmed by the Iraqi Parliament.
Three equal horizontal bands of red, white, and black.White – Replace a better future
Red – Overcoming through a bloody struggleBlack - Oppression
The green calligraphy in the middle means “God is Great.”
Population
About 30 million people live in Iraq The growth rate is 2.5% annually. 75 – 80% is Arab, 15-20% is Kurdish,
Turkoman, Assyrian, or other is 5% The birth rate is 29.4/100. Their life expectancy is 70.2 years.
Iraq Population
Language
Arabic is the most dominant language. Kurdish is the official language in Kurdish
regions Turkmen is a Turkish dialect Assyrian Armenian
Languages
Arabic Kurdish Alphabet Turkmen Alphabet
Religion
Muslim is the main religion in Iraq, 97% of the population in Iraq is Muslim.
Shia 60-65% Sunni 32-37% Christians/Other is 3%
Government
Iraq is divided into 18 governorates. A governorate is an administrative division of
a country. The president is Jalal Talabani since 2005. The prime minister is Nuri al-Maliki since
2006.
Economy
Iraq’s unemployment rate is 15.3% Labor force: Agriculture is 21.6%, Industry is
18.7%, Services is 59.8% Petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, and
sulfur are some of it’s natural resources.
Climate
Mostly desert Mild to cool winters with dry, hot cloudless
summers The mountainous region along Iranian and
Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing flooding in central and southern Iraq.
Hospitality
Arab and Muslim Tradition Visitors are treated as kings and must always be
fed and looked after. Tradition with Islamic people actually lets
someone stay in their home for 3 days before they can be question on how long they’ll stay.
Invitations to a home must be considered as a great honor and never turned down.
Iraq Clothing
Women in Iraq cover their entire body, especially when leaving home.
It’s the country’s belief that this type of dress protects the women and discourages men from having sexual thoughts.
The Hijab is known as a veil, it’s a dark fabric that wraps around the face, leaving only a small amount of skin exposed.
Iraq Clothing
Traditional clothing is a long dress that reaches a woman’s ankle, a scarf that covers the face, and another scarf that covers the chin.
Younger women are allowed to wear different dresses inside their own home and only wear the traditional dress when walking outside of the home.
Greetings
Most common greeting is the handshake, eye contact, and a smile.
Good friends of the same sex may greet each other with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek, always starting with the right.
Expect to be introduced at small gatherings. At larger gatherings, you may introduce
yourself.
Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to an Iraqi home first check if you have to remove your shoes.
You have to dress appropriately. Don’t discuss business. Table manners are formal. Use the right hand for eating and drinking. It is considered polite to leave some food on your plate
after you have finished eating.
Holidays in Iraq
1 Jan New Year's Day. 6 Jan Army Day. 26 Feb Mouloud (Birth of
the Prophet Muhammad). 9 Apr Baghdad Liberation
Day. 17 Apr FAO Day. 1 May Labour Day . 14 Jul Republic Day
8 Aug Ceasefire Day (End of Iran-Iraq War).
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
3 Oct Iraqi Independence Day (National Day).
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
7 Dec Islamic New Year. 16 Dec Ashura.
Marriage
A guy asks a relative, neighbor, cousin, work partner, or a girl in the same school for her hand.
Then he goes with his parent’s to hers and tells them that he wants to marry their daughter.
After an agreement is made, there is a tradition called Mashaya.
In which the men from both families get the chance to meet each other, to get the good impression.
Food
Grapes grew plentifully and were used for wine.
The rich soil known as the “Fertile Crescent,” produced crops such as leeks, onions, lentils, wheat, and barley.
Some examples are: Kebab Yalanchi (tomatoes
stuffed with rice) Adas Bil Hamod
(lentils with lemon juice)
Pictures
KebabYalanche Adas Bil Hamod
Sports and Recreational Activities
Soccer is Iraq’s national passion. Basketball, swimming, weight lifting,
bodybuilding, boxing, kick boxing, and tennis are also popular sports.
The end. (: