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Showing 16 results for Rituals
Volume 1, Issue 3 (3-2004)
Abstract
The word hemmat in Farsi conveys the meaning of will, endeavor, effort and high-mindedness while in the view point of the wise it is one on the spiritual wayfaring level. In other words it is the wings for spiritual flying of the wayfarer to reach to the high end. Hemmat is the factor for working and reaching the God’s benevolences and it also will promote the patience and tolerance against the difficulties. The nature of the wayfarers’ high-mindedness is not only ignoring the worlds but it is the destination of the wayfarers. Although some of the wayfarers may reach the end without making any efforts and only by the God’s mercy but, it is necessity as it directs their willing and promote the accomplishments and confirmations by God and accelerate reaching to the end. High Hemmat is not limited to the affairs within the capability but, it covers the affairs more beyond the capability.
Ebrahim Fayaz, Mosareza Gharbi,
Volume 4, Issue 8 (6-2016)
Volume 4, Issue 8 (6-2016)
Abstract
Oral literature is a part of the non-material culture. It is a rich kind of literature and includes a variety of legends, songs, proverbs, riddles, idioms and so on. Each of these types has rich dimensions for cultural analysing. "Ara" /ærɒ/ is a common expression or term in oral literature of Sheshtamad, Sabzevar region. It denotes to a series of processes and actions and activities that using native aesthetic elements, make a ritual and ceremonial aspects to objects and affairs. This article investigates the application of this local and popular idiomatic expresion for four ritual and ceremonial ceremonies like "Nakhl","Alam" , "Asbe Chobi" and the "Asbe Hizomi" . The research question is why does a particular action become a ritual and ceremonial act and the symbolic experesion of it become a ritual or ceremonial idiomatic experesion. The results indicates that each of these ceremonies show certain cultural and social meanings. "Ara" as an idiomatic expression is for highlighting the importance of the ritual and ceremonial meanings ,concepts and in general the importance of that social ceremony, art and aesthetic also is for showing this importance. This highlighting is with the transition from the realm of everyday life to social, ritual and symbolic life, so this idiomatic expression can be considered as a mixture of art, ritual and ceremonial concept. Moments of human life represents in social dimensions of the communal spirit of society. Due to the enormous significance of social reproduction and representation, the society benifies from main and the most important elements of itself ,that is art and aesthetic and ornamental elements to represent itself.
Sareh Shahpar,
Volume 5, Issue 17 (10-2017)
Volume 5, Issue 17 (10-2017)
Abstract
Public medicine and its principle and philosophy is one of the important subjects in culture and literature of Iranian whose investigation reflects the invisible parts of public culture. In this study, while focusing on the customs and traditions of Larestan region, the author tried to investigate and study the childbearing’s customs in different aspects in this area to reveal and identify the ideas and beliefs of public medicine within explaining the perception and worldview of public. Any customs related to childbearing, birth and naming somehow convey the subject of transition or entering a new degree, too. In fact, by passing any stage and going to a new stage of life, we witness finding a new identity which forms the process of sociality of human. Anthropology of beliefs related to childbearing, birth and the stabilizer customs and traditions of that, make us familiar with the important parts of cultural life of an individual in the process of sociality. This study tried proceed to this important case by using the field data and research methodology in Larestan region. Since, by developing the modernizing process, most of their traditional beliefs, customs and traditions are declining, and in order to recognize the cultural past of people in different parts of Iran, the examination of these customs sounds necessary.
آ
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Volume 5, Issue 18 (12-2017)
Volume 5, Issue 18 (12-2017)
Abstract
Old encyclopedias are among the most important sources of preserving the folklore in Persian literature. Among these texts is Alaei’s Nezhatnameh authored by Shahmardan Ebn Abelkheyr in the late fifth century. In addition to the classification of the common science of its era, it includes the important and fundamental elements of folklore. Refering to the rituals and folk beliefs about plants is one of the most important themes of popular culture in this work. In addition to providing scientific and pseudo-scientific facts derived from earlier sources and his own observations and experiences, the author has alluded to a large number of beleifs and rituals with respect to productivity, properties of plants and trees, fighting off the pests, repelling the evil eye, improving and increasing the yield, some of the implications of climate events such as the frog cries signifying the coming of rain, the relationship between trees and humans, false threatening of the tree to guarantee its productivity, the role of plants in dream interpretation, and other odd characteristics. The purpose of this study is to extract, sort, and check the plant-related folk rituals and beliefs in Nezhatnameh as well as quantitatively and qualitatively explore its origins and backgrounds besides an unmatched evaluation of this text with some similar texts in this particular field
Volume 7, Issue 4 (3-2018)
Abstract
Nowadays the issue is that most Islamic traditions have been neglected in the society. The influence of theological and religious values on the construction and development of urban spaces are much more important. In the present study an attempt was made in order to define the Islamic city and its requirements and investigate the role of spaces related to rituals and religious ceremonies held in commemoration of Muharram through a case study of Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar. In investigating the theoretical way of study is a descriptive-analytical method and for the sample survey-analysis was applied. Data collection was done through interviewing the experts and scholars in religion, library study of the theories and definitions on the subject and field study (questionnaire). In the studied case (Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar) it was also observed that many people from most of the groups (people participating in ceremonies, businessmen in downstairs of Timcheh, businessmen in upstairs of Timcheh, heads of mourning groups, Islamic Development Staff and police) agree upon holding the five-day mourning ceremony in Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar despite of some problems, since it has been held there for about a century and transferring it to another place will damage its glory. The reason we have observed in the obtained results and findings is the sense of belonging and attachment to this place after years of holding many ceremonies in this place and the memories people have of it in their minds which are part of their lives. Another reason is the identity that holding Muharram ceremonies have given to this place through all these years. Therefore, identity along with memorable and repeatable events reinforces the potential of this place. According to the obtained results, most of people in 5 groups (people participating in ceremonies, businessmen in downstairs of Timcheh, businessmen in upstairs of Timcheh, heads of mourning groups, Islamic Development Staff and police) have agreed upon holding Ashura and Tasua mourning ceremonies in Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Bazar which gives a special identity and fame to this place, and provides a sense of belonging to it. However, there are some problems in holding these ceremonies and an attempt was made to solve them by studying the problems and suggesting some solutions and also try to maintain the originality and durability of this precious place, which is due to holding special rituals and mourning ceremonies in Muharram, by inviting participants in these ceremonies, heads of mourning groups and businessmen in Timcheh to help.
Nowadays the issue is that most Islamic traditions have been neglected in the society. The influence of theological and religious values on the construction and development of urban spaces are much more important. In the present study an attempt was made in order to define the Islamic city and its requirements and investigate the role of spaces related to rituals and religious ceremonies held in commemoration of Muharram through a case study of Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar. In investigating the theoretical way of study is a descriptive-analytical method and for the sample survey-analysis was applied. Data collection was done through interviewing the experts and scholars in religion, library study of the theories and definitions on the subject and field study (questionnaire). In the studied case (Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar) it was also observed that many people from most of the groups (people participating in ceremonies, businessmen in downstairs of Timcheh, businessmen in upstairs of Timcheh, heads of mourning groups, Islamic Development Staff and police) agree upon holding the five-day mourning ceremony in Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar despite of some problems, since it has been held there for about a century and transferring it to another place will damage its glory. The reason we have observed in the obtained results and findings is the sense of belonging and attachment to this place after years of holding many ceremonies in this place and the memories people have of it in their minds which are part of their lives. Another reason is the identity that holding Muharram ceremonies have given to this place through all these years. Therefore, identity along with memorable and repeatable events reinforces the potential of this place. According to the obtained results, most of people in 5 groups (people participating in ceremonies, businessmen in downstairs of Timcheh, businessmen in upstairs of Timcheh, heads of mourning groups, Islamic Development Staff and police) have agreed upon holding Ashura and Tasua mourning ceremonies in Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Bazar which gives a special identity and fame to this place, and provides a sense of belonging to it. However, there are some problems in holding these ceremonies and an attempt was made to solve them by studying the problems and suggesting some solutions and also try to maintain the originality and durability of this precious place, which is due to holding special rituals and mourning ceremonies in Muharram, by inviting participants in these ceremonies, heads of mourning groups and businessmen in Timcheh to help.
Nowadays the issue is that most Islamic traditions have been neglected in the society. The influence of theological and religious values on the construction and development of urban spaces are much more important. In the present study an attempt was made in order to define the Islamic city and its requirements and investigate the role of spaces related to rituals and religious ceremonies held in commemoration of Muharram through a case study of Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar. In investigating the theoretical way of study is a descriptive-analytical method and for the sample survey-analysis was applied. Data collection was done through interviewing the experts and scholars in religion, library study of the theories and definitions on the subject and field study (questionnaire). In the studied case (Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar) it was also observed that many people from most of the groups (people participating in ceremonies, businessmen in downstairs of Timcheh, businessmen in upstairs of Timcheh, heads of mourning groups, Islamic Development Staff and police) agree upon holding the five-day mourning ceremony in Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Baazar despite of some problems, since it has been held there for about a century and transferring it to another place will damage its glory. The reason we have observed in the obtained results and findings is the sense of belonging and attachment to this place after years of holding many ceremonies in this place and the memories people have of it in their minds which are part of their lives. Another reason is the identity that holding Muharram ceremonies have given to this place through all these years. Therefore, identity along with memorable and repeatable events reinforces the potential of this place. According to the obtained results, most of people in 5 groups (people participating in ceremonies, businessmen in downstairs of Timcheh, businessmen in upstairs of Timcheh, heads of mourning groups, Islamic Development Staff and police) have agreed upon holding Ashura and Tasua mourning ceremonies in Timcheh Mozaffarieh in Tabriz Bazar which gives a special identity and fame to this place, and provides a sense of belonging to it. However, there are some problems in holding these ceremonies and an attempt was made to solve them by studying the problems and suggesting some solutions and also try to maintain the originality and durability of this precious place, which is due to holding special rituals and mourning ceremonies in Muharram, by inviting participants in these ceremonies, heads of mourning groups and businessmen in Timcheh to help.
Mohammadreza Shariatirad, Gholamhossein Sharifi Valadani, Eshagh Toghiani,
Volume 7, Issue 29 (12-2019)
Volume 7, Issue 29 (12-2019)
Abstract
Rituals are among the ceremonies that bring people together and preserve and reproduce cultural monuments in every nation. Among the people of Kohgiloye Vobir Ahmad, there are rituals, rooted in the ancient Iran, that represent plant themes. Among these rituals, which are still practiced today with the same style, are the Pol Borun, reading Sharbah, the sacrificial, Balagarduni, and Chalegarm Konun. The Pol Borun ritual is performed in the absence of a woman's spouse who cuts her hair and then buries it under an oak tree. In the sacrificial ritual, the animal is sacrificed under the oak tree at the top of the mountain or under the bush by the river to shed its blood as a sign of fertility. In the ritual of Balagarduni, in addition to planting patches on the tree to keep the evil eyes away, mountain plants are also used. In the Chalegarm Konun, while taking green plants to the tombs before the New Year's Eve, some Ash (food) is cooked with eight oak sticks and then divided among the locals. The purpose of this study is to analyze the vegetative signs in the rituals of the people in Kohgiloye Vobir Ahmad and explain the literary aspects of these local poems. This research is based on the field library study, qualitative content analysis, and the semi-structured interviews. Many elements of herbal plants, such as polypropylene, mulch and smoking, sheding blood in the sacrificial rites, and pruning the graves have mythological representation in the Iranian culture.
Mohamad Mashhadi Nooshabadi Mashhadi Nooshabadi,
Volume 7, Issue 30 (12-2019)
Volume 7, Issue 30 (12-2019)
Abstract
The midnight of Ramezan in Nooshabad brings a ritual in the name of Horbaba, in which children are gone to the homes and pray for a child of the homeowner through hymn, and then receive gifts. The sample of this ritual is seen in many regions and provinces of Iran including Turkmen desert, Yazd, Kerman, Sistan, Bushehr, and Khuzestan. On the other side, a three-day joint celebration called Hirombā is held by Zoroastrians in which they collect firewood, set fire, read hymns with children and adolescents at the homes of residents, and then receive edible gifts. Hirombā has a significant similarity with Horbaba, in terms of the name, general structure, lyrics, content, and a blessing of children's focus. The fire which is common in the poem of Hirombā is also common in Horbaba. It seems that Horbaba's ritual, which is still held in many parts of Iran, is the remnant of the ancient Hirombā and Sadeh, and although it has become small and time-lapsed, it has been preserved through an Islamic structure. Researchers view Hirombā the same as Sadeh celebration. They associate the ritual with the sun and Yazata Rapithwin. This paper, based on the field studies and document analysis, aims to introduce Horbaba and its other examples in Iran and focus on its common elements with Zoroastrian Hirombā rituals and their mythical origins
Roya Portaghi, Mohammad Homayoun Sepehr, Vahid Rashidvash,
Volume 9, Issue 38 (5-2021)
Volume 9, Issue 38 (5-2021)
Abstract
Tehranian women performed in their private gatherings without men's presence. It seems that these performances were the manifestations their temporary dreams since their life conditions were much influenced by the culture of the society in which their freedom and power were threatened, and consequently their dreams were limited. In such situations, women's activities were done in hidden, away from the society's control. This raises a question: What is the relationship of these ritualistic performances and the women's dreams on the one hand, and what is its relationship with their condition as a second sex? The research method is document analysis and field study. 27 Tehranian women between 60 to 70 years old were selected and their memories were recorded. There were some interviews regarding their narrations of these rituals; however, the main data consisted of the documents analyzed. The data analysis was through thematic analysis. Firstly, Turner's symbolic anthropology and Schechner's performance theory were employed for analyzing the ritualistic performances, and then Gluckman's theory of reversed customs was used to investigate the paradoxes within the elements of the performances. The findings shows women's dreams of having a safer environment and more
power like men to establish security for themselves.
Hossein Shirkhani, Ishaq Mirbaluchzaei, Balal Rigi,
Volume 9, Issue 42 (12-2021)
Volume 9, Issue 42 (12-2021)
Abstract
Review of the Literature
There are some studies on the proverbs and anecdotes of the Baluchi language, some of which are written by Dor Mohammad Kord (2010) Sepahi and Mir Baluchzai (2013) Keshavarz (2015), and Rakhshani (2004).
Regarding the analysis of proverbs, Jahandideh (2018) has dealt with the semiotic analysis of those famous Baluchi proverbs in which animals played a symbolic role. Porki (2021) has studied the pathology of cultural issues of the Baluch people based on parables in three parts: individual, family, and society. Outside Iran, we can refer to the book Bethel, Gashten, Pejdanak O Ghent, written by Rashid Khan (2010). This book analyzes the etymology and history of some of the famous Baluchi proverbs in all areas of Baluchi dialect. Loghman (2010) comparatively examines Baluchi and English proverbs and has also written a brief introduction to the anthropological and linguistic function of the Baluchi proverbs in a book entitled Bettel, The Rabidge of Benzene Fever.
Research method
In the present study, the authors have tried to analyze the social structure and ritual codes of some of the Sarhadi Baluchi's proverbs with the people-oriented approach of Michael Borawy; this is because "by knowing and being familiar with proverbs, and recording them, one can have access to a pure ethnic culture, which has its own social structures and ancient values" (Rakhshani, 2004, pp. 2-4). The focus of the present study is the "Sarhad" region of Baluchistan in Iran and the "Sarhadi dialect" of the Baluchi language. The present article follows field study through library research.
Theoretical foundations
Michael Borawy (born 1947) is an English sociologist best known for his people-oriented approach to sociology. (Pellet, 2012, pp. 7-25). In the people-oriented reading of sociology, people's lives and culture are very important. "People-oriented sociology is one of the major branches of sociology" (Borawy, 2004, p. 9). Avoidance of theorizing and having a qualitative method are the main features of this approach. It is in people-oriented sociological analysis that "dialogue emerges" (Borawy, p. 4). This sociological approach, as Michael Borawy himself puts it, "is closely related to those people who are observable, intertwined, active, and local, and who are often not of the same color as the general public." In fact, many people-oriented sociologists fall into the category of organic people-oriented sociologists ... There is a dialogue between the organic sociologist and the people he studies, and a process of mutual education takes place between them” (Borawy, 2015, p. 55).
The important point in this scientific approach is that people-oriented sociology does not seek to theorize society. Rather, it distances itself from the macro-theories in order to reach out to the general public and better understanding of folklore and behavioral traditions. As Borawy argues "The goal of people-oriented sociology is to place sociology in a dialogue with popular groups” (Borawy, 2004, p. 7). He also states that now is the time to "systematically transfer our knowledge to those from whom we borrowed it." It is time to relate the personal problems of individuals to public issues and thus re-weave the moral foundation for sociology. The promise and of course, the challenge of people-oriented sociology is that it is not a denial of professional sociology, but a complement to it” (Borawi, 2015, p. 48).
According to the research findings, by demographic sociological analysis, it is possible to study people and cultural phenomena, including ethnic values and oral traditions, and to welcome cultural transformations and the obsolescence of some traditions. Also, many significant actions of the social structure of the Baluch people in the form of folk traditions and value rituals such as asylum, court, assistance, swearing, knife and shroud, hospitality, bread and salt, etc. are prominent and can be categorized in Baluchi proverbs. In the analysis of the social structures and structures of the studied parables, the importance of social group, social laws and social biases can be understood, and from the point of view of sociological analysis, the social concepts of mobility, crisis, norm, deviation and control can be mentioned in Baluchi parables.
References
Borawy, M. (2015). On people-oriented sociology (translated into Farsi by Behrang Sedighi). Ney.
Burawoy, M. (2004). American sociological association, presidential address: for public sociology. American Sociological Review, 70(1), 4-28.
Platt, J. (2012). International sociological association. University of Sussex.
Mohammad Mashhadi Nooshabadi,
Volume 10, Issue 47 (12-2022)
Volume 10, Issue 47 (12-2022)
Abstract
Jel Jelani is an ancient ritual with Iranian roots that is held in the mountain village of Tameh in Natanz city. In this way, in the three nights leading to the 19th of January, the youth of the village light a fire in the evenings, then they go to the houses and sing folk poems to wish the people of the house blessings and health. After that, the owner of the house, with desire and respect, gives food gifts such as fruits and dried fruits. He puts it in a tray and gives it to the group, the group pours it into their donkey's trunks and goes to another house. At the end, they gather in a small mosque and divide the gifts among themselves. This ritual is a little different from the past, because in the past, stones were placed on the head of the trees and fire was lit on top of a mountain so that its light reached all the gardens. The data of this research, which was collected through documents, was then analyzed from the religious and ritual point of view. The results of the article showed that the ritual of Jel Jelani is derived from the Zoroastrian rituals of December, which has many similarities with the Zoroastrian Sedeh and Hirumba festivals and the Muslim half-month ritual of Ramazan, however, the ritual of the half-month of Ramazan has largely preserved its Iranian authenticity and is in line with the needs of gardeners, who are facing the problem of cold mountain cold and frozen trees.
Zahra Jamshidi,
Volume 11, Issue 54 (12-2023)
Volume 11, Issue 54 (12-2023)
Abstract
Popular beliefs in Kermanshah province, especially among the Kurds living in this province, are special, untouched and related to mythological thoughts. In this essay, the author has investigated and analyzed the marriage rituals in the Sanjabi, Kalhor and Goran. Among the many marriage rituals in the mentioned clans, courtship rituals, holding a wedding on a odd day, the presence of a woman named Pākahsūr, the bride's red dress and bread and salt with her, the magic of the knot, the presence of male elements in the symbolic affairs of the wedding, dance and music . According to the research, matchmaking in the mentioned clans is mostly in the form of the girl's family leading the way, which is reminiscent of marriage in matrilineal periods. The woman who is referred to as Pākahsūr has the key role of the goddess Ašī. Holding weddings on odd days of week is related to sacredness of one, three and seven in mythology. The red color of the wedding dress has mythological meaning and shows life, and bread and salt with her is related to the concept of Farrah. The magic of the knot, which is more commonly referred to as tying the groom, is a kind of imitative magic, and the strong role of male elements in the wedding is in connection with fire and the symbolic concept of the stove. The Kurdish music and dance (Halaparkī) is basically a repetition of the rituals of honoring the land and related to the agricultural era.
Mehdi Rezaei, Asma Hosseini,
Volume 12, Issue 55 (3-2024)
Volume 12, Issue 55 (3-2024)
Abstract
Research in the field of rituals is important and necessary because the identity of the people of a society lies in them. In this research, using a descriptive-analytical method, to investigate magic, poems and rituals in rituals, Zar, Azaim -Nashini, Kondo, Nonposh and Tabe Garmak were studied. Magic is one of the prominent elements that can be seen in these rituals. Accordingly, the rituals are examined from the point of view of George James Frazer. The results show that only the treatment of the Nun-Posh ritual is done with the magic of proximity, in other rituals, the magic of similarity is observed. In addition, poems and verses are recited in rituals that are effective in treating diseases.
Asghar Esmaeili,
Volume 12, Issue 56 (5-2024)
Volume 12, Issue 56 (5-2024)
Abstract
The aim of this article is to examine the position of carpet weaving in folk culture and literature. Its explicit findings indicate that in the folk culture, the philosophy of the emergence and nature of carpet weavers' beliefs and carpet weaving in Iran are expressed as follows: projective, defensive, aesthetic, and palliative. The analysis of rituals such as the “Mi bechkelessen Alasht" related to wool preparation for weaving shows the link between ancient Iranian rain rituals and religious beliefs in the carpet washers of Mashhad Ardahal. In folk literature, references to the most important carpet weaving regions in Iran are made in proverbs, discussing carpet maintenance and the hardships of carpet weavers, while economic aspects of carpets are discussed using specialized carpet terminology, creating various themes and reflecting some customs and traditions. The main themes of Iranian carpet weavers' songs include love, separation from the beloved, the sorrow of exile, the hardship of carpet weaving, describing the beauty of carpets, seeking help from Imam Reza (AS) at work, and wishing for the completion of carpet weaving and pilgrimage to Imam Reza (AS). In myths formed around the theme of carpets and weavings, and in the myth of Solomon's Carpet, one can find heroism with real characters defeating natural elements, and the carpet itself being a mythical element added to the myth by the public. In the myth of "Muffler and Solomon's Son," the element of coincidence leads to the discovery of how the harp is made. All of these instances demonstrate the undeniable significance of carpets in folk culture and literature; the public themselves have created these beliefs, proverbs, songs, and myths, reciting them and being the performers of carpet weaving rituals.
Omid Vahdanifar , Motahareh Rahimzadeh ,
Volume 12, Issue 59 (11-2024)
Volume 12, Issue 59 (11-2024)
Abstract
One of the areas in folk culture is to analyze the common rituals among the ethnic groups, and their ways of doing so. Rituals are some of the cultural and social issues of a particular culture, the employment of which requires certain manners and styles, which are of significance in folk culture studies. Some rituals are vast among some ethnicities, in that they are performed in different occasions, the analysis of which show the culture and beliefs in that ethnicity. As some of the rituals related to rain pray are particular to the northern Khorasan ethnic groups (Turks, Tarts, Turkeman, and Kermanj), the current study aimed to identify the rain pray rituals and their performative manners related to each ethnic group as well as their aims through library study and interviews. The findings figured out the types of rain pray rituals among the focused ethnic groups, and their performances in the ritual which are almost similar among them, such as puppetry, singing rain pray songs in group, distributing strew or votive bread, sacrifice, and saying prayers. Some of these symbols in rain pray are rooted in religious beliefs and some others in mythological notions. The role of women and children is significant in the performances. Although the ritual of rain pray is different on the surface among the ethnic groups, in total, all follow the same aim. Moreover, the people who were performing such rituals believed in them by heart.
Volume 15, Issue 4 (10-2024)
Abstract
The current study aimed to provide a "contrastive analysis" of rituals related to 'Mohr Zadan' and 'naming' in Kurdish based on gender factors. Deep interview method applied to gathering data of an adult educated native woman. Based on the collected data on this step, a new non-structured group interview was designed and carried on in a small group of 5 non-educated native speakers aged 60 to 70. Relying on the conceptual blending theory, the present study analyses all recorded narrations. The results suggest that Kurdish culture uses different conceptual inputs- or more significantly- selects different mappings of the same input to regenerate new conceptual spaces to represent the cultural values of two genders. In other words, in Kurdy, cultural gender values play a significant role in conceptual blending.
1. Introduction
The various rituals and ceremonies that take place in every culture and subculture are significant examples of how people, by engaging in symbolic behaviours, create a new or collective concept. Rituala and concept have meaning not only in the culture, but also has the power to influence and change a person's life. Based on this, the study of rituals not as mere symbolic ceremonies, but as meaning-creating models that are effective in the psychological and cognitive spheres of people is the subject of the upcoming research. Therefore with a comparative study of the rituals related to birth in the Kurdish culture of Sorani Sanandaj based on both genders, boys and girls, we have sought answers to the following questions
Research Question(s)
- With regard to a common concept such as the birth-giving, what inputs are used in the Kurdish culture under study to create meaning for each gender?
- What mappings were made to create a generic and blended space of rituals related to the birth-giving in the Surani Kurdish culture of Sanandaj for each gender, and what methods did this culture use to create a blended space?
- the conceptual blended space around the ritual of the birth-giving in the studied Kurdish culture for girls and boys with emphasis on what choices among input elements is formed?
2. Literature Review
Conceptual blending theory (Fauconnier & Turner, 2002) as the theoretical framework of this research, has been adopted in various filed and different topics from news narrating analyses (van Krieken and Sanders: 2018); and headlines’ implicatures (Barczewska: 2017); to internet discourse study (Augustyn and Prażmo: 2020) or political analyses like (Berberović and Delibegović Džanić: 2020).
In Iran also this frame work was utilized in many studies like as the study of Conceptual Blending of War, Hunting and Love in Saadi’s Ghazals (Asqar Nejhad & Fahgih malek marzban: 2017) or cognitive narratology and applying the Conceptual Blending Theory to Persian Folk Tales (Barekat, Rowshan, Mohammad Ebrahimi, Ardebili: 2012);
3. Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework of this research is conceptual blending theory (Fauconnier & Turner, 2002), which identifies two or more different mental spaces as inputs and, by examining the mappings between aspects of common elements selected from each of the two, analyses the way in which the human mind perceives, deals with, re-understands or re-identifies pre-existing perceptions, or creates new applications from previous inputs.
4. Methodology
In order to answer the questions of this research, the general structure of the research is first designed within the framework of a comparative study and based on the qualitative analysis model. Based on this, the semi-structured interview method was considered and the desired questions were given to an educated female speaker whose mother tongue is Sorani Kurdish. The interviewee was asked to evaluate the interview questions in terms of clarity, relevance and comprehensibility by 'thinking aloud'. After designing and modifying the interview questions based on the suggestions made by the spokesperson, various rituals related to the birth-giving were collected from a middle-aged female spokesperson by using the in-depth individual interview method. Then, in order to obtain more information, five illiterate men and women, aged between 50 and 70, whose mother tongue was Sorani Kurdish and who conducted their daily conversations in this language, were interviewed using the "targeted group interview" method. their narration of the desired ritual was recorded and continued until saturation point. Finally, the interviews were transcribed in order to extract and analyse the details related to the ritual of the birth-giving rituals. It is worth mentioning that the information was collected in the form of an audio recording with the knowledge and consent of all the interviewees. At the same time, some important classifications were also recorded in writing during the interview and re-evaluated by the interviewees in order to check the accuracy of the recording or its classification. By transcribing and analysing the data extracted from the interviews, the concepts related to the ritual of the birth-givinf were analysed as follows.
5. Results
The analysis of different parts of the rituals related to the birth-giving in the Surani Kurdish culture of Sanandaj, in response to the first question of the research, data shows that this culture creates different meanings in same rituals by choosing two different inputs belonging to the same class to form a conceptual blended space. For example, choosing two different foods such as 'walnuts' or 'crystallised sugar' is effective both in the process of creating the meaning of the blended space and in the purpose and intention behind the desired ceremony and ritual. On the other hand, despite the use of this culture from similar inputs such as "Sureme", "Blessed Object", "Angels" and "Mohr", sometimes the selection and representation of different components of the concepts leads to the creation of a completely different meaning in the blended space.
Data analysis in response to the second question of the research shows that the Sorani Kurdish culture of Sanandaj, by selecting different components of input concepts and creating selective mappings from a set of conceptual blended space, selects concepts that fit the cultural frame of the child's gender. In this sense, the selective projection of input elements in the ritual of "Mohr Zadan" for baby girls is done in line with concepts such as "being beautiful, patient, pleasant and being liked"; while in the case of a baby boy, this process is done by selecting elements such as "being stubborn and resistant, being an entrepreneur and being a thinker and supporter".
Finally, in answer to the third question of the research, it seems that rituals in the Surani Kurdish culture of Sanandaj, take account the conceptual frames that govern the cultural definitions of "good woman" and "good man" and choose different inputs or choose and represent different aspects of the same input to create new meanings through this passage. Based on this, the determining factor of the blended space and conceptual mappings in these rituals is the "gender cultural frame" that will be effective in all the processes of "mapping", "choosing the vital relationship" and "creating meaning".
Volume 17, Issue 67 (10-2024)
Abstract
The short story The Lottery written by Shirley Jackson depicts the annual lottery ritual in a small American village. The story ends in a strange and scary manner. This story is aimed at those cultural norms and customs that act as false consciousness, leading individuals to pre-contemplative actions. Actions that occur mostly in the context of social praxis and therefore lack the necessary rationality, because basically, the driving force behind these actions is a blind social will. Based on this, and in response to the question of how "standing in the death row" relates to the lottery and why this ritual persists, the author explains the socio-psychological indicators of the work by employing the mythological model of René Gerard as the general framework of criticism while analyzing and criticizing the present story. In the end, it is clear that the foundation of this story is based on the offering of sacrifice as a ritual matter occurs "prior to symbolic representation". Sacrifice rituals, while representing material realities, organize the internal system of the work.
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery is an exploration of tradition, ritual, and the darker side of human nature. This story was first published in 1948 and at the very beginning, it faced a lot of criticism because of the horrible portrayal of cultural norms and customs. Anyway, the events of the story take place in a small village in rural America. This short and strange story finally leaves the reader stunned, prompting questions such as: "What kind of luck is this that the people of the village are so attached to?”; “What is the relationship between what the villagers follow every year in a ritualistic manner, with their ‘standing in the death row’, or with the lottery?”; and “Why is such a deadly ritual basically not abolished?"; indeed, “According to what perception, falling into the death trap is called luck?”
2. Review of Literature
Anggriawan (2013) in a research titled Human Irony in Shirley Jackson's Lottery analyzes The Lottery using Peirce's semiotics to reveal human ironies. Bailey (2014) in a study called Sacred Violence in Shirley Jackson's Lottery, before applying René Gerard's theory on violence, religion, and sacrifice, first briefly examines the range of critical readings. In a joint research, Anoosheh and others (2018) have tried to read and interpret The Lottery in the light of Durkheim's theory. In this review, it is determined that despite the fact that the main character of the story is thought to be brutally killed by his friends and family, as a result of being too integrated into the structure of society, however, he actually committed altruistic suicide. Hakaraia (2019) argues that The Lottery can be read in five contrasting ways, referring to the influence adopted by Jackson from Empson's seven types of ambiguity. Nugraha and others (2020) analyze the main character of The Lottery by applying role-oriented systemic linguistics. Paramitha (2021) emphasizes in his research that the ideologies hidden in the text include social dominance and marginalization through tradition.
3. Methodology
In order to answer the above-mentioned questions, the author has tried to explain some of the socio-psychological indicators of the work while analyzing its underlying mythological framework to make it clear that in the basis of this story, we are dealing with a general pattern based on the sacrifice of the victim. In fact, in the story of The Lottery, the ritual of the sacrifice acts in order "prior to the symbolic representation" and for this reason, the unfolding of the sacrifice, as an objective and real phenomenon, organizes the internal system of the work. Therefore, the ironic situation of the story and the paradoxical logic that governs it originates from a kind of ancient anthropological attitude that, according to many thinkers, does not belong solely to primitive thought. In the following, we will see that the mythological model of René Gerard, a French American thinker, has the ability to analyze and criticize the current story, as a structural model that does not lose its dependence on real and objective history in mythological studies and literary theory.
4. Discussion
René Girard believes that what is mentioned in the Western tradition under the topic of mimesis or imitation is based on the subject's imitation of another; But according to him, desire is not the result of simulations, but actually its cause. This means that the subject's tendency towards the external matter is not due to its intrinsic and internal nature, but rather the desire is directed towards the other rather than towards the object and its possession. In this relationship, the other plays the role of a model or mediator, and therefore, whatever is desirable in his eyes, influences the subject, and therefore the subject's desire turns to it. Therefore, the desire for the object is on the second level and it is the result of such simulations. After proposing the "triangular model of mimetic desire" (cf. Girard, 2000: 33-44), Girard emphasizes that when the model is on par with the subject, or in other words, it is in the same social position with him in terms of type and rank, competition is formed. This competition continues until the subject and the model alternately change their places and are affected by each other. In this way, trying to emulate the other's desire will eventually lead to similarity between the parties; this similarity reaches to the point where it becomes nearly impossible to separate the parties from each other. French-American thinker, René Girard, offers a specific mythological psychoanalytic framework through which Shirley Jackson's Lottery can be analyzed. His theory of mimetic desire for violence, religion, and sacrifice reveals the hidden meanings in the story. Girard believes that all desires are simulations; that is, they come from imitating others. Our desires mirror what we perceive others desiring. In fact, desire consists of three elements: the subject, the model (someone whose desires we imitate), and the object (what we desire).
Girard argues that imitative desire leads to competition and conflict. When desires collide, violence erupts. To restore order, societies often scapegoat an individual or group and blame them for collective problems. Don Quixote is a good example to explain the imitative desire. Influenced by chivalric romances, this character imitates fictional knights. In the same way, the villagers in The Lottery imitate ancient rituals without thinking about the ultimate aspects of their behavior.
Accordingly, Old Warner embodies the continuation of the tradition. He insists Lottery must continue, even if it means sacrificing one person each year. His identity is tied to the survival of this violent system. Gerard's main idea is that violence is fundamental to human societies. The sacred often derives from violence, whether in religious rituals, legends, or cultural practices. This explains why the ritual of the Lottery, though horrific, functions as a sacred practice. Stoning becomes a collective bonding experience that strengthens social cohesion. Tessie Hutchinson becomes the victim. Her death cleanses society of collective guilt or anxiety. The villagers unite against her and strengthen their common identity.
References
Anggriawan, D. (2013). A human irony in Shirley Jackson's Lottery. Department of Language and Literature, English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Studies, Brawijaya University.
Anoosheh, S. M., & Oroskhan, M. H. (2018). Examining Durkheim's model of suicide on Shirley Jackson's Lottery. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 83, 31-38. https://doi.org/10.18052/www.scipress.com/ILSHS.83.31
Bailey, T. (2014). Sacred violence in Shirley Jackson's Lottery. British and American Studies, 20(203), 37-42.
Hakaraia, T. (2019). Shirley Jackson’s ‘Lottery’ and William Empson’s seven types of ambiguity. Humanities, 8(3), 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/h8030137
Girard, R. (2000). The Girard reader (J. G. Williams, Ed.). The Crossroad Publishing Company.
Nugraha, I. S., & Mahdi, S. (2020). Transitivity system on building character of Mr. Summers in Lottery by Shirley Jackson. A Journal of Culture English Language Teaching Literature and Linguistics, 7(1), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.22219/celtic.v7i1.11980
Paramitha, N. P. (2021). Social domination and marginalization in Shirley Jackson’s Lottery: Critical discourse analysis and appraisal study. Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.21462/jeltl.v6i1.499
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery is an exploration of tradition, ritual, and the darker side of human nature. This story was first published in 1948 and at the very beginning, it faced a lot of criticism because of the horrible portrayal of cultural norms and customs. Anyway, the events of the story take place in a small village in rural America. This short and strange story finally leaves the reader stunned, prompting questions such as: "What kind of luck is this that the people of the village are so attached to?”; “What is the relationship between what the villagers follow every year in a ritualistic manner, with their ‘standing in the death row’, or with the lottery?”; and “Why is such a deadly ritual basically not abolished?"; indeed, “According to what perception, falling into the death trap is called luck?”
2. Review of Literature
Anggriawan (2013) in a research titled Human Irony in Shirley Jackson's Lottery analyzes The Lottery using Peirce's semiotics to reveal human ironies. Bailey (2014) in a study called Sacred Violence in Shirley Jackson's Lottery, before applying René Gerard's theory on violence, religion, and sacrifice, first briefly examines the range of critical readings. In a joint research, Anoosheh and others (2018) have tried to read and interpret The Lottery in the light of Durkheim's theory. In this review, it is determined that despite the fact that the main character of the story is thought to be brutally killed by his friends and family, as a result of being too integrated into the structure of society, however, he actually committed altruistic suicide. Hakaraia (2019) argues that The Lottery can be read in five contrasting ways, referring to the influence adopted by Jackson from Empson's seven types of ambiguity. Nugraha and others (2020) analyze the main character of The Lottery by applying role-oriented systemic linguistics. Paramitha (2021) emphasizes in his research that the ideologies hidden in the text include social dominance and marginalization through tradition.
3. Methodology
In order to answer the above-mentioned questions, the author has tried to explain some of the socio-psychological indicators of the work while analyzing its underlying mythological framework to make it clear that in the basis of this story, we are dealing with a general pattern based on the sacrifice of the victim. In fact, in the story of The Lottery, the ritual of the sacrifice acts in order "prior to the symbolic representation" and for this reason, the unfolding of the sacrifice, as an objective and real phenomenon, organizes the internal system of the work. Therefore, the ironic situation of the story and the paradoxical logic that governs it originates from a kind of ancient anthropological attitude that, according to many thinkers, does not belong solely to primitive thought. In the following, we will see that the mythological model of René Gerard, a French American thinker, has the ability to analyze and criticize the current story, as a structural model that does not lose its dependence on real and objective history in mythological studies and literary theory.
4. Discussion
René Girard believes that what is mentioned in the Western tradition under the topic of mimesis or imitation is based on the subject's imitation of another; But according to him, desire is not the result of simulations, but actually its cause. This means that the subject's tendency towards the external matter is not due to its intrinsic and internal nature, but rather the desire is directed towards the other rather than towards the object and its possession. In this relationship, the other plays the role of a model or mediator, and therefore, whatever is desirable in his eyes, influences the subject, and therefore the subject's desire turns to it. Therefore, the desire for the object is on the second level and it is the result of such simulations. After proposing the "triangular model of mimetic desire" (cf. Girard, 2000: 33-44), Girard emphasizes that when the model is on par with the subject, or in other words, it is in the same social position with him in terms of type and rank, competition is formed. This competition continues until the subject and the model alternately change their places and are affected by each other. In this way, trying to emulate the other's desire will eventually lead to similarity between the parties; this similarity reaches to the point where it becomes nearly impossible to separate the parties from each other. French-American thinker, René Girard, offers a specific mythological psychoanalytic framework through which Shirley Jackson's Lottery can be analyzed. His theory of mimetic desire for violence, religion, and sacrifice reveals the hidden meanings in the story. Girard believes that all desires are simulations; that is, they come from imitating others. Our desires mirror what we perceive others desiring. In fact, desire consists of three elements: the subject, the model (someone whose desires we imitate), and the object (what we desire).
Girard argues that imitative desire leads to competition and conflict. When desires collide, violence erupts. To restore order, societies often scapegoat an individual or group and blame them for collective problems. Don Quixote is a good example to explain the imitative desire. Influenced by chivalric romances, this character imitates fictional knights. In the same way, the villagers in The Lottery imitate ancient rituals without thinking about the ultimate aspects of their behavior.
Accordingly, Old Warner embodies the continuation of the tradition. He insists Lottery must continue, even if it means sacrificing one person each year. His identity is tied to the survival of this violent system. Gerard's main idea is that violence is fundamental to human societies. The sacred often derives from violence, whether in religious rituals, legends, or cultural practices. This explains why the ritual of the Lottery, though horrific, functions as a sacred practice. Stoning becomes a collective bonding experience that strengthens social cohesion. Tessie Hutchinson becomes the victim. Her death cleanses society of collective guilt or anxiety. The villagers unite against her and strengthen their common identity.
References
Anggriawan, D. (2013). A human irony in Shirley Jackson's Lottery. Department of Language and Literature, English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Studies, Brawijaya University.
Anoosheh, S. M., & Oroskhan, M. H. (2018). Examining Durkheim's model of suicide on Shirley Jackson's Lottery. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 83, 31-38. https://doi.org/10.18052/www.scipress.com/ILSHS.83.31
Bailey, T. (2014). Sacred violence in Shirley Jackson's Lottery. British and American Studies, 20(203), 37-42.
Hakaraia, T. (2019). Shirley Jackson’s ‘Lottery’ and William Empson’s seven types of ambiguity. Humanities, 8(3), 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/h8030137
Girard, R. (2000). The Girard reader (J. G. Williams, Ed.). The Crossroad Publishing Company.
Nugraha, I. S., & Mahdi, S. (2020). Transitivity system on building character of Mr. Summers in Lottery by Shirley Jackson. A Journal of Culture English Language Teaching Literature and Linguistics, 7(1), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.22219/celtic.v7i1.11980
Paramitha, N. P. (2021). Social domination and marginalization in Shirley Jackson’s Lottery: Critical discourse analysis and appraisal study. Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.21462/jeltl.v6i1.499
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