The Sanctity of Fire in the Folk Culture of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad: A Study Based on Local Poetry
Document Type : پژوهشی اصیل
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Yasouj University, Yasouj ,Iran .
2
PhD Candidate in Persian Language and Literature, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.
10.48311/cfl.2025.86475.0
Abstract
The connection between fire — a sacred and celestial element — and the nomadic lifestyle of the Lur people reflects its mythic importance and symbolic sanctity. From ancient times to the present, fire has occupied a central place in the local literature and folk traditions of this region. The constant burning of fire, its generative and healing properties, and its recurring representation in key cultural motifs such as tash (fire), tong (tongs), chaleh (pit), himeh (fuelwood), bolazeh (flame), chereng (spark), and angesht (ember), as seen in local poetry, literary gatherings, and book titles, all testify to the reverence afforded to fire among the people of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad. Through examining the sanctity of fire in ancient beliefs and its continuity in contemporary folk traditions among the Lurs, the authors argue that this reverence has endured as a long-standing cultural belief. In the Lur worldview, fire transcends its material utility, serving instead as a symbol of faith, vitality, unity, compassion, sincerity, and intimacy. This study employs a content analysis approach based on both fieldwork and library research. It should be noted that certain parts of the text lack direct citations because some of the materials stem from the authors’ field observations and oral poetry that has not been formally documented. Nevertheless, these materials are widely present in the spoken language, oral literature, and musical traditions of the Lur people.
Keywords
Subjects
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Field sources (interviewees)
Amini, H. 77 years old. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad. Dena County. Kokhdan Village. Code 4.
Danshi, H. 77 years old. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad. Cheram County. Darreh Akhund Village. Code 5.
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