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INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
Iraqis are very generous & loyal, and very polite to their friends. If a friend asks for a favor, it is considered very rude to say no. it is taboo to wish bad luck on someone because it might come true. While having a conversation, it is rude to turn one’s foot out (or on the table) so that the sole is facing the other person. The left hand is used for sanitary purposes, therefore, it is never used when eating – aside from using forks and knives.
When talking, Iraqis touch each other & stand closer together. People of the same sex will often hold hands while talking or walking and kiss when greeting, but public affection between people of the opposite sex is discouraged. Iraqis talk a lot, talk loudly, repeat themselves often and interrupt each other constantly. Conservations are highly emotional and full of gestures. Some common Iraqi gestures are:
* Eyebrows raised and head tilted back = “No” * Clicking the tongue with a tsk sound = "No" * Forefinger moving right-to-left repeatedly = "No" * Hand moving up and down palm facing down = "be quite" * Hand moving away from the body the palm facing down = "Go away!" * hand reaching out while opening and closing the hand palm facing up = "come here" * Right hand on heart after shaking hands = show of sincerity * shaking the head from side to side = lack of understanding, not necessarily disagreement.
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 Artist: Jawad Salim |
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CULTURAL HERITAGE
Iraq has a rich cultural history dating back to the Sumerians, thought to be the first advanced civilization on earth. Storytelling has been important since the very beginning. Mesopotamia’s stories have influenced other literature and art in the world, including Biblical stories (such as the Song of Songs, and The Psalms) & Greek epics & myths (such as The Iliad & Aesop’s Fables). The most famous literacy work to emerge from this vast cultural history are the Epic of Gilgamesh (an Acadian hero-tale) & the One Thousands and One Nights (a collection of Arab Folktale)
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 Fishing in Basra |
ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION
Football “or soccer” is the favorite sport in Iraq. Outdoor activities are popular; swimming & fishing are favorite recreations in the Tigris & Euphrates rivers during the summer.
Rural men hunt & fish with friends and shop together for food and drinks at the market and bazaars of the town. Rural women visit with each other and talk, cook, or make handicraft.
The most noteworthy fact about Iraqi entertainment and recreation is that it is nearly always done in the company of others. Iraqis are extremely social people.
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FAMILY LIFE
The family is the most important social unit in Iraq, and family loyalty is one of the most important values. Honor, both personal and family, is also very important. It is considered a disgrace to speak badly about a family member, or tell non-family members about bad things that have happened in the family. A family consists of all related kin, and can include hundreds of people. Rural families live with or near each other, while urban families stay closely connected through other means.
The traditional household of a typical man in his 40s consists of himself, his wife, their unmarried sons and daughters, their married sons and their wives and children, the man’s mother if she is still alive, and frequently his unmarried sisters if he has any.
Very probably, the most powerful force in the household is the man’s mother. Her sons revere her, and her daughters-in-law must do her bidding. The structure of Arab society is such that financial power is in the hands of the husband, although his wife is not completely without influence.
Sex roles are very clearly defined in Iraq. In rural areas, this strict division many times causes the sexes to be segregated except when eating and sleeping.
Most marriages are arranged by families, but a couple must approve a match. Divorce is very rare, even when it’s fairly easy under Islamic Shari’a (law)
Young children are adored and indulged, though they are strictly punished for misbehavior. They are expected to obey their parents and grandparents. Iraqis believe that wisdom increases with age, so the elderly are deeply revered.
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RITES OF PASSAGE
Weddings are the most important festivals – aside from Islamic holy days – in Iraqi life. Relatives and friends hold parties for a few days before a wedding, which is usually short.
The birth of a child is another occasion for a big celebration. Three days after the birth, family members and friends come to visit and bring gifts for the child. Sometime between 9 – 13 years old, children begin the “al-Khitma”, or the reading of the Quran. A child studies for a year or more to prepare for this task. When ready, those who read the Quran with minimal errors, earn the title of “Hafiz” (someone of good memory). After a successful reading, the family holds a celebration in the child’s honor, usually a luncheon or tea. Relatives give the child gifts and money, and everyone wears colorful clothes.
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