The Commemoration of Iranian Poet Hafez

Image of Iranian Poet Hafez

Weimar, an eastern city in Germany, held its fourth cultural festival West-Eastern Divan Festival, commemorating the 14th century poet Hafez.

Ali-Reza Sheikh Attar, Iran's ambassador to Germany, along with Weimar's Mayor Stefan Wolf, the deputy mayor of Shiraz, and numerous scholars attended the ceremony held in Weimar. Iranian carpet, handicrafts, and musical performances were lavishly presented at the event.

Founded in 2008, the West-Eastern Divan Festival is celebrated each year to expand the cultural relations between the Iran and Germany. The festival also includes reading by the German author Goethe and the Persian Hafez. The festival was originally named after an 1819 collection of poems by Johann Wolfang Goethe, influenced by the Hafez's work.

 Goethe is generally considered a key figure in German Literature and the Weimar Classicism movement in the late 18th and 19th centuries.

 Hafez, born in the 14th century, is best known for his beautiful, harmonious sonnets and for establishing a tasteful smidge of Persian culture into his poetry.  His literary work has also inspired many artists and musicians. His verse is frequently recited during national occasions such as the Persian New Year (Norouz).

This year’s West-Eastern Divan Festival was held on October 5.

For more information on this amazing poet and the West-Eastern Celebration, go to

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