By Ayla Schroepfer
Kurdistan culture is a richly diverse, cultural, and historical region that is inhabited mainly by the Kurdish people. Their culture encompasses various aspects of life which includes language, religion, clothing, etc. The Kurdish language is an Indo-European language with several dialects. Kurmanji is one of the main dialects spoken. Concerning religion, the majority are Sunni Muslims while some communities practice other religions such as Christianity and Yazidism. The traditional clothing for a woman to wear is a keske which is a loose-fitting dress that is usually vibrant in colors. Listed below are five more details about Kurdistan that you may not have known about.
Respect Elders
Traditional Kurdish societies place a high value on elders with respect. Elders are highly valued for their wisdom and love towards the younger generations. To show respect to elders Kurdistan people will often times stand when an elder enters the room. They also seek the opinions of elders regarding important matters, help elders with daily tasks, and participate in family events to show respect.
Religious Freedom
Although the majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslim, people have the freedom to be able to choose if they take part in a religious practice and which religion they want to practice. It can sometimes vary by family whether or not the younger generations have a choice in which religion to follow or if they need to practice what the elders choose. It can also vary by region, as some people are not very accepting towards others who are not Sunni Muslim. So, while Kurdistan has religious freedom it is still a complicated matter.
Gender Roles
Traditionally, women would be associated with the domestic roles while the men would provide and protect the family. Recently, more women have started to work and pursue careers in various different fields. It has become more accepted for women to be in the workforce and women have equal opportunities to receive high-paying jobs.
Marriage
Marriage is significant in Kurdistan culture as tradition, family values, and individual choices play a role in shaping the institution of marriage. It can vary between families, but it used to be common for there to be arranged marriages in which families would play the main role in choosing who a person would marry. Depending on a person’s religion, a man can marry a non-Muslim woman, but a woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man.
Ramadan
Ramadan is a religious month-long celebration in which Muslims fast as a form of spiritual discipline and self-reflection. Fasting is from sunrise to sunset in which when breaking a fast, families usually come together and share a meal with one another. They also have special nightly prayers during this time. Lots of times children get money for Ramadan from elders. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a festival called Eid al-Fitr which is a day of feasting, spending time with family, and exchanging gifts.