TEHRAN – The Khuzestan Cultural Heritage Devotees Society (Tariana) plans to gather Iranian parents at a storytelling festival in May 2014.
The Festival of Storytelling Fathers and Mothers has been organized to promote the old tradition of storytelling in Iran, the festival spokesman Mojtaba Gahestuni told the Persian service of MNA on Sunday.
The festival, which will be held on May 18, 2014, aims to collect part of the oral traditions and preserve them for the next generation, and to encourage people to respect their cultural heritage, he said.
He added that stories told by parents to children are a major part of the cultural heritage of a country, and that children today need to hear them so they can hand down the tales to future generations of children.
“Stories refer to historical events, battles, ceremonies, heroes, love, friendship and religious beliefs,” he said.
Unfortunately, recent changes in lifestyles and the development of modernity have changed the identity of culture. “Many traditions and beliefs have been faded away, a part of which are our oral literature and stories,” he said.
Interested applicants are asked to submit samples of their stories narrated and saved on CDs to parents.storyteller@gmail.com.
RM/YAW
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