The Encyclopaedia of Iranian Folklore

Despite its exceptional richness and genuine greatness, the culture of the Iranian people or their folklore has been less researched. The popular culture of a society is a full-length mirror of people’s lives, and its recognition is necessary to improve historical and sociological studies. Recording information related to people’s culture and valuing it is, in fact, honoring “people”. Popular thought is the mother and consistent basis of the official culture of any country. This thought, dynamic and free from restrictions and forms, can adapt to any situation, evolve, and flow along with societal changes. In this sense, people’s culture is superior to the official culture. Popular thought is rooted in every country’s distant historical past and is transmitted to the next generations along with human traditions and values. Particular needs and situations cause the creation of folklore components, and various forms of people’s culture are, in fact, the appropriate responses to social needs. Hence, a collection of knowledge, customs, beliefs, superstitions, feelings and emotions, material and spiritual life components, and characteristics of the mass spirit and taste have been called people’s culture or folklore. Therefore, people’s culture is a precious treasure and an old and reliable source representing society’s personality, identity, and existence.

    In the path of development and progress in societies, past knowledge and science are constantly forgotten and destroyed, especially since many aspects of people’s culture are oral and are transmitted through language and imitation. Thus, many experts and researchers try to preserve parts of their culture and social heritage amid the rapid transformation of societies by collecting and classifying information, employing the methods of accurate recording. In Iran, efforts have been made in this field since several decades ago; however, there has been no coherent research project that contains all the issues related to people’s culture from a scientific and anthropological point of view. Therefore, the Centre for the Great Islamic Encyclopaedia has attempted to prepare a reliable reference with the help of the knowledge and experience of more than 100 experts and researchers in the Iranian culture and folklore field. This encyclopaedia will contain 4 thousand articles in alphabetical order and be published in six volumes. Many of these articles are accompanied by images, sketches, maps, tables, and charts. This encyclopaedia will be published in print, and then the electronic and online versions will be developed.