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

Kebab

YalancheAdas 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. (: