Symbolism of Pomegranate
Written by Abdolhossein Ghasemnejad.In the last autumn evening, Iranians celebrate the winter solstice known in the Persian culture as Yalda. This single evening is only one minute longer than the night before which marks the beginning of winter when gradual waning of daylight is reversed and it begins to grow again. People often help themselves to special foods and fruit that might slightly vary from region to region. Watermelons, pomegranates and persimmons are among the most popular kinds of fruit. According to Abolghasem Anjavi Shirazi in Celebrations and customs and beliefs of winter, "Eating pomegranates in Yalda night protects people against fever and summer heat, keeps animals and insects at bay in summer, and prevents many diseases throughout the year."
Symbolism Behind These Fruits
One of the main reasons why these three types of fruit are popular is the colour red. In the ancient Iranian customs and traditions, red represents fire or light. What matters here, however, is the symbolic significance of pomegranate which is crucial in the Iranian handicrafts and handwoven carpets in particular. Knowing the symbolism behind the motifs in handwoven carpets, customers may grow more interested in them.
The Fruit Specifics
Pomegranate is a native fruit to Iran and is grown across the country. Given the climate in each region, pomegranates come in different shapes, sizes and tastes. In some areas in Iran, pomegranate trees also grow in the wild. The pomegranate skin is used as a natural textile dye in handwoven carpets manly because of its availability and abundance. Besides, once boiled, it can alone turn to high quality dye without any other materials added.
Symbolism
The main symbolism around pomegranate has roots in its shape and inner texture and structure which is interpreted as abundance and ubiquity of a whole unity. In the Islamic culture, pomegranate is a fruit from heaven. In the Zoroastrian culture, too, pomegranate is considered as a holy fruit. Densely packed seeds inside pomegranate represent fertility and abundance as they appear to ordinary people like a woman’s breast from which an infant is fed. There are similar references to this interpretation in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, too. It is customary in some regions, therefore, for the groom to throw a pomegranate in front of the bride, which is believed to improve the bride’s health and is a sign of her fresh complexion. Moreover, pomegranates in front of a bride are believed to encourage fertility. According to a very old tradition, the bride drops a pomegranate so that it cracks and its seeds are all over the ground. The number of seeds on the ground then is a sign of how many babies she will bear.
Bibliography
- Ghasemnejad, Abdolhossein. 2022. Field Work.