Language & Literature
What two main languages are spoken in Afghanistan?
dari and pashto
What is the capital city of Iran?
Tehran
Who was the famous Afghan singer of the 1970s known as the “Elvis of Afghanistan”?
Ahmad Zahir
Name four common items on the Haft-Seen table for Nowruz and what they symbolize.
Examples: Sabzeh (growth), Seer (health), Seeb (beauty), Senjed (love), Somāq (sunrise), Samanu (strength), Serkeh (patience).
What traditional Afghan/Iranian dessert’s golden color comes from saffron, and its aroma was historically associated with royalty and luxury?
Sholeh Zard
Though Dari and Persian are mutually intelligible, what is one distinct difference between them
Dari uses more older Persian words and different pronunciation; Farsi has more modern slang and shorter vowels.
In 1919, Afghanistan gained full independence from which empire?
The British Empire.
What city in Iran is known for its breathtaking blue-tiled mosques and architecture from the Safavid period?
Isfahan
During Afghan wedding celebrations, a special dance is often performed with a scarf or handkerchief. What is this dance called?
Attan
What fruit, often found on the Haft-Seen table or eaten on Yalda Night, represents the blood of life and the sun’s rebirth?
Pomegranate
What does the word “Shahnameh” literally mean in English?
It means “Book of Kings.”
What empire ruled over much of ancient Persia and was known for building the Royal Road and the city of Persepolis?
The Achaemenid Empire (founded by Cyrus the Great).
What is the Persian art of beautiful handwriting called?
Calligraphy (khattati)
What is the term for the formal introduction meeting between families before engagement in Afghan and Iranian culture?
Khastegari
n Afghan culture, what is the significance of serving roasted chickpeas (gram) at weddings or Nowruz?
It symbolizes fertility, abundance, and a wish for prosperity in the coming year.
What short Persian poem form—used by Rumi and Hafez—expresses love, loss, and the search for God?
The ghazal
What country borders both Afghanistan and Iran to the east?
Pakistan.
Which famous female Afghan singer and activist was known for performing despite threats from the Taliban?
Aryana Sayeed.
What sweet treat is commonly served at Afghan weddings and during Nowruz celebrations as a symbol of joy and sweetness in life?
Sheer Pira (Afghan milk fudge), Noghl (sugar-coated almonds), jalebi
The dish Kabab Torsh from northern Iran uses a specific marinated paste including pomegranate juice and crushed walnuts. In which provinces is this dish traditionally made?
Kabab Torsh is traditionally from the Gilan and Mazandaran provinces of Iran
Which famous poet from Balkh wrote “The Conference of the Birds”, a story about birds searching for their king as a symbol of spiritual awakening?
Farid ud-Din Attar — author of “The Conference of the Birds.”
Which Afghan king in the 1920s tried to modernize his country—especially women’s rights—but was forced out after backlash?
King Amanullah Khan.
What Persian poet’s words are often sung or used as lyrics in classical Iranian music?
Hafez (his poetry is often used as song lyrics).
During shab-e-yalda, families gather to eat fruits like watermelon and pomegranate. What does this holiday celebrate?
longest night of the year / the winter solstice
In Afghanistan a traditional underground ice‑storage and ice‑making structure — developed by engineers around 400 BCE — was used to produce and store ice for chilled desserts such as sheer yakh and faloodeh. What is this structure called
Yakhchāl