Hi Blogggers!
Because of the war, many things were destroyed and many things changed. That's why i'm going to blog about the culture of Iraq and Karbala.
Iraq has one of the world's oldest cultural histories and a very rich heritage. It is known for its poets, painters and sculptors who are among of the best in the Arab world.
The architecture of Iraq is seen in the sprawling metropolis of Baghdad, where the construction is mostly new, with some islands of exquisite old buildings and compounds, and elsewhere in thousands of ancient and modern sites across Iraq.
Unlike many Arab countries, Iraq embraces and celebrates the achievements of its past in pre-Islamic times. What is now Iraq was once the Cradle of Civilization in
Ancient Mesopotamia and the culture of Sumer, where writing and the wheel were invented. In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Islamic Abbasid Caliph's presided over what was then one of the world's richest civilizations.
Iras has a lot of different traditions like their traditional music consists of instruments such as ouds, flutes, violins, drums, and tambourines. Now however, there are many young artists generating pop, rap, and wider types of musical genres. Tea houses are scattered throughout Iraq, and in the afternoon, it is a habit for shopkeepers to retreat into the back with close friends to sip tea over gossip, an Iraqi "siesta".
Rites of passage in Arab Iraq are mainly centered on children being schooled enough to correctly read the Quran, quite the challenging task. The Quran is perhaps one of the hardest texts to read, both because of depth of meaning and due to the difficult range of sounds Arabic demands from the human vocal cords. The child with least pronunciation errors is called the hafiz or memorizer. There is usually a large celebration in the child's honor.
Marriages and births are enormous parts of Iraqi life. It is common to have hundreds of people attend weddings. Marriages are often arranged, but rarely forced.
In Iraq there are some strange believes and habits like:
Iraqi Arabs believe that wisdom comes with wrinkles in old age, and as such grandparents and parents are highly respected. It is seen as a disgrace if a child is publicly rude to someone of the elder generation.
As in other Middle Eastern nations, the left hand is used for sanitary activities including the restroom, and the right hand is used for food and greeting.
Offering to shake with the left hand may be perceived as an insult, and eating with the left hand embarrassing.
Iraqis are a particularly extroverted people, and their conversations will often be adorned with many hand gestures.
(foto: Saddam Hussein gestures during his trial in 2006)
Generosity is valued in Iraqi culture, and it is seen as rude to snub someone asking a favor. This is heightened especially during the month of Ramadan, when it is necessary to give zakat or donations to the poor. Many families, rich and poor, cook for the homeless, or invite them to dinner. Some prepared plates of baklava or a dish of kebab can be taken with them.
Hope you liked the cultural side of Iraq and Karbala!
Keep blogging!
Greetz Klaas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Iraq
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Iraqis are a particularly extroverted people, and their conversations will often be adorned with many hand gestures.
The Bala-Hisar means a citadel or fortress within a walled town on top of a ridge or hill. Bala-Hissar as town’s main defensive complex has served as residence of Afghan rulers. Most of Afghan historic cities have a Bala-Hissar. This 06th century old fortress has witnessed most of the exciting events of the century’s history until 1880 when it was destroyed during the second Anglo Afghan war. Nadir Shah started the process of reconstruction and since 1939 it served as military college until it was left in ruin by the bombardments & skirmishes.
Babur died in Agra in 1530 but he loved these gardens so much that he wished before his death to be buried in these gardens. His Afghan wife, Bibi Mobarka, who built his tomb in these gardens, fulfilled his wish. Recently these gardens were in ruin but now AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) has taken the responsibility of its re-construction to return back to its past glory.
The tomb of Timur Shah
The Mausoleum of Amir Abdul Rahman
The Mausoleum of Nadir Shah
lion
Babylon
Souk al-Ghazal
National Museum
The Kadhimimain Mosque 
Qaysari Bazaar 
