Culture & Traditions

Two colossal statues — Kartlis Deda in Tbilisi and Mother Armenia in Yerevan — watch over their capitals. The story of the Caucasus' two iron mothers.

Sergei Parajanov turned everything he touched into art. Discover the great director's life and where to find his footprints in Tbilisi and Yerevan.

From Istanbul's bazaars to Yerevan's cafés, one word of affection unites the region. What "jan" means and how to use it like a local.

The Lurji Supra or Georgian Blue Tablecloth, is one of the most distinctive and symbolically charged textiles of the South Caucasus. More than a decorative household object, it functions as a ritual surface, a cultural code, and a mediator between the material and spiritual worlds.

For the uninitiated traveler, the holiday season in the Caucasus is a beautiful puzzle. Why does the West unwrap gifts on December 25th, while the Armenians celebrate on January 6th, and the Georgians wait until January 7th?

Chichilaki is Georgia’s traditional New Year and Christmas tree, handcrafted from hazelnut or walnut wood and rooted in ancient ritual. Long before Western fir trees appeared, chichilakis symbolized renewal, fertility, and hope for the coming year. Closely linked to the western Georgian New Year tradition of Kalanda, they are decorated with fruits and sweets, then ceremonially burned in January to cleanse the past and welcome new beginnings.

Explore the living heritage of the Assyrians — from Tur Abdin and Haberli to the Nineveh Plains — where ancient language, faith, and culture still flourish.

Tradition of carpets in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan. Symbols, colors, and importance of this tradition.

From Yerevan's backstreets to Baku's balconies, laundry lines follow unspoken rules. A look at everyday culture across the Caucasus and Türkiye.

Armenian, Georgian, Syriac — the sacred scripts of the Caucasus and Mesopotamia are landscapes of memory, carved in stone and ink.

From the Mesopotamian plains to the valleys of Duhok, deq — the traditional tattoos of Kurdish women — tell stories of faith and identity.

Khachkars — Armenia's intricately carved stone crosses, recognised by UNESCO — embody a thousand years of faith, memory and craft.

From Pirosmani to today's masters, Georgian painting draws on mountains, churches and folklore. A guide to the artists and where to see them.