Traditions of Shiraz
The city of poets, roses and wine in Persian memory, and the resting place of Hafez and Saadi.
Shiraz is in the south of Iran and is famed as the home of the poets Hafez and Saadi. Their tombs are gardens visited by Iranians who consult the Divan of Hafez, opening it at random for guidance. The city is also known for its gardens, roses and the nearby ruins of Persepolis.
Poetry and the garden
At Hafez's tomb, visitors read verse aloud and recite lines. Many Iranians keep a copy of the Divan at home and consult it in a custom called fal-e Hafez, especially at Nowruz and Yalda. Yalda Night, the longest night of the year, is celebrated with pomegranates, watermelon and poetry readings.
At the table
Faloodeh, thin starch noodles frozen in rose syrup and lime, is the summer treat. Kalam polo is rice with cabbage and meat balls, and sholeh zard, a saffron pudding, is made for religious occasions. Rose water is made each spring in the nearby town of Qamsar.
Signature traditions of Shiraz
Also part of it, and being written: Divan of Hafez (The custom of reading Hafez for guidance.), Faloodeh (The frozen noodle dessert.), Rosewater (The Persian rose water.).
A trail idea for Shiraz
- Tomb of Hafez Join families reading poetry in the garden.
- Vakil Bazaar Buy spices and Persian carpets.
- Persepolis The ruins of an ancient capital nearby.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Yalda Night: M.Sadegh Nikgostar/Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, source
- Khatam: Fabienkhan, Public domain, source
- Tirgan: LACIPETO, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Persian miniature: 13th century CE painter, Public domain, source
- Ta'ziyeh: Payam Moein, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Haft-sin: HengamehRM, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Persian garden: dynamosquito, CC BY-SA 2.0, source