Halloween: A Celebration for the Distortion of Iranian Culture

WANA (Oct 31) – From Karim Khan Street to Niavaran Street in Tehran, from Rasht to Isfahan, from cafés to forest camps — Halloween has slowly found its way into the lives of Iranian youth; a Western celebration that, flavored by the creativity of a new generation, has now turned into a more localized ritual — a blend of excitement, fear, and a brief escape from reality.

In Persian-language social media, Instagram’s explore is now filled with ads for Halloween-themed nature camps, exclusive Halloween events, cafés decorated with plastic skeletons and spiders, and restaurants that even serve black-colored pasta made with special ingredients. Some cafés began preparations weeks in advance—with special menus, dim lighting, dry-ice smoke, and glasses that emit a cold mist.

“We wanted to create a different kind of night. People are looking for excitement,” says Aida, the owner of one of these cafés, who has been planning the decorations, menu, and special programs for three weeks.