Vegetarianism through Shahnameh

I born and grew up in Tehran /Iran, and I moved to the USA when I was 28 years old in 2011.

Moving to the USA, California, I been exposed to many different cultures enjoyed different foods with each different culture in this melting pot that joins together cuisines, languages, and traditions from every corner of the earth.

But also I was shocked by seeing statistics of obesity in the United States, .and it makes me mindful of food and politics behind the food too. Yes, I was shocked by a large number of Fast food restaurants, especially in a poor neighborhood. It is always available and accessible to consume by people, especially poor people. It is cheap, tasty, and fast! It is a drive-thru.

On the other hand, in Iran, making a meal for the family is teamwork, and it was a slow process.

Usually, younger men in the family were in charge of buying the ingredients and bread. And younger ladies are preparing the elements, and at the end, mother or grandmother with their magical touch, including their ancestral recipe, cook the food.

From the beginning of civilization to present-day Iran, so many groups, tribes, and individuals have Attacked or traveled to Iran, proving the region to new folkways, theories, concepts, and foods, as well as bringing Iranian myths and feeds back to their own home countries.

The ancient Greeks, Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans, India, and Turks are just some of the groups that have inspired by Iranians.Silk road was another way for this cultural conversion between these regions.

The main staples of Iranian food are usually is eating with every meal include

rice, various herbs, cheese, a variety of flatbread, and some meat (usually

poultry, beef, lamb, or fish). Stew over rice is by far the most popular dish,

and the constitution of these vary by region. Persian food culture has a long history from the sixth century B.C.

Iranian religion before Islam was Zoroastrianism.

Fundamental to Zarathushtra's philosophy is the kind, loving care, friendship, and respect of gentle/graceful animals, pets, and livestock. Zarathushtra even explains EVIL; "as willful blindness in matters of the spirit/mind, and not offering protection/stewardship to the creatures,"

The Shahnameh is a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between c. 977 and 1010 CE and is the national epic of Greater Iran. Consisting of some 50,000 "distichs" or couplets, the Shahnameh is one of the world's longest epic poems.

in this book, he explains when 'Zahak' made a deal with the devil.

Zahak's life has many details about the food habits of the Iranians. Zahak was the son of a holy king and probably an Arab. One day the devil covered as a knowledgeable man appears to him and tells if Zahak wants to be the king by killing his father. So he killed his father, and he became king by the devil's help. Once Again, Devil appears to him as a chef and told him that he cooks the most delicious dishes. Zahak was pleased by the food, and he said to the devil if he wanted any rewards. The devil requests to kiss Zahak's shoulders. After Devilkisses Zahak's Shoulder, two black snakes grew on his shoulder, and every time Zahak cut them, they grow up bigger and bigger.

One again, The devil appears to Zahak as a doctor and told him to stop the snakes from growing. He should serve them the brains of two young men every day. For a thousand years, Zahak was feeding snakes by Iranian young men's brains. It ends with man rebellion that sees him bound and thrown into the deep caves below the legendary Mount Damavand.

The Muslim conquest of Persia, also known as the Arab invasion of Iran, led to the fall of the Sasanian Empire of Iran (Persia) in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion. The transition of Zartostian to Islam has a significant impact in politics, art, culture, and food as well. Eating meat was one of these changes in Iranian culture.

In the teaching of Islam, God has provided resources for man, in the form of materials and other resources, including other animals as a source of food.by being vegan and vegetarian in the sense that you reject and forbid what is already permissible as food.

Also, to eat meat, only 'Halal' meat is allowed to eat.

one of the traditions that changed but still exist is Nazr The Iranians using the ancient Persian ritual of giving free foods to the people called"Nazr." this ritual after Islam came to Iran exist and adapted in Muharram and the Day of Ashura. It's an ancient Persian ritual that to cook food and give it to the poor people, friends, and family, in their ceremonies.