سفید

The white wedding dress in Iran is a 20th-century import that became universal: "لباس سفید عروس" is now the standard expectation, even in religious families, even in cities where older brides wore embroidered local dress. سفید also has its own cultural symbolism beyond weddings. Old age and wisdom: ریش‌سفید (rish-sefid, "white-bearded") is a respected village or family elder who mediates disputes. Rice on the haft-sin and at every meal: سفیدبختی (sefid-bakhti, "white-fortuned," meaning happiness, especially for a married couple) is a traditional blessing. In contrast, white can also signal absence: کاغذ سفید (kâghaz-e sefid, "white paper / blank paper") and پرچم سفید (parcham-e sefid, "white flag" of surrender). The color is loaded with positive ritual weight in Iranian life, but it is not naive.