The CEO of the National Intellectual Development Association, who celebrates Uncle Nowruz, does not need Santa Claus.
The widespread celebration of Christmas at the Vank Church in Isfahan has led to reactions from authorities and officials of the Islamic Republic. Hamed Alamati, the CEO of the Children and Youth Intellectual Development Association, referred to this reception as a cultural invasion in a television program, stating that it should be countered by promoting authentic Iranian stories.
He said that a country that has the story of Uncle Nowruz and Granny Frost does not need Santa Claus and Christmas celebrations.
Meanwhile, this cultural official in the Islamic Republic emphasizes the strengthening of the foundations of Iranian culture, while the government’s efforts to change the names of the national ceremonies of Yalda and Sizdah Bedar in the official calendar have been met with widespread negative reactions from the society.