Syriac Heritage Museum in Iraq offers glimpse of Mesopotamian civilization

STORY: Syriac Heritage Museum in Iraq offers glimpse of Mesopotamian civilization DATELINE: Jan. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:03 LOCATION: ERBIL, Iraq CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Syriac Heritage Museum in Erbil STORYLINE: The Syriac Heritage Museum in Erbil, Iraq, offers a glimpse into the history of the Ankawa district and the civilization of Mesopotamia. The two-floor museum was established in 2011 and consists of many sections. The traditional Mesopotamian costumes section on the first floor displays costumes that local people still preserve and wear on some occasions. On one of its walls is a mural showing the civilizations and historical stages that Ankawa and Mesopotamia went through from the Babylonian, Assyrian and Akkadian eras, as well as Syriac history and the history of Christianity before and after the founding of Islam. In the middle of the first floor is a clay model of the ancient town of Ankawa. It simulates the ancient life and the agricultural community in Ankawa before i

Iraqi Kurdistan Christians celebrate Christmas Mass

STORY: Iraqi Kurdistan Christians celebrate Christmas DATELINE: Dec. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:25 LOCATION: ERBIL, Iraq CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Christians celebrating Christmas STORYLINE: Thousands of Christians celebrated the Christmas and New Year's Day Mass in the churches of the city of Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, on Saturday evening. The Syriac Orthodox Church of Umm al-Nour in the Ankawa district hosted the Mass, attended by hundreds of Christians from the Kurdistan region and displaced Christians from the Nineveh governorate who have been living in Erbil for years. Iraqi Christians are considered one of the oldest Christian groups in the world. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Erbil, Iraq. (XHTV)

Agricultural festival featuring grape products held in Iraqi Kurdistan

STORY: Agricultural festival featuring grape products held in Iraqi Kurdistan DATELINE: Aug. 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:34 LOCATION: ERBIL, Iraq CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the "Pera" festival in Iraqi Kurdistan 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): SALWAN SARDAR, Owner of the model farm of Ankawa in Erbil 3. various of the "Pera" festival in Iraqi Kurdistan STORYLINE: The first "Pera" festival for grapes and other agricultural products is being held in Ankawa district in Iraqi Kurdistan region. The festival, hosted by the model farm of Ankawa, includes a display of more than 30 varieties of grapes produced by the farm. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): SALWAN SARDAR, Owner of the model farm of Ankawa "The aim of organizing the festival is to introduce people to the grape varieties available on the farm, which contains more than 46 types of grapes, and today we have shown more than 30 varieties of grapes, in addition to displaying more than 10 varieties of raisins." The festival also provides an opportunity for visitors to

2nd Syriac Heritage Festival held in Erbil, Iraq

STORY: 2nd Syriac Heritage Festival held in Erbil, Iraq DATELINE: April 6, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:32 LOCATION: ANKAWA, Iraq CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the festival STORYLINE: The second session of the Syriac Heritage Festival kicked off on Tuesday in the district of Ankawa in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, on the occasion of the Akitu holidays. 　 The name Akitu is very ancient. It is New Year's Day for the Acadians, Babylonians, Assyrians and Chaldeans, and the feast begins in the first month of the year, which is in April. During the three-day festival, a variety of handicrafts, arts and foods are presented, such as Syriac calligraphy paintings, plastic art and pottery, and Syriac traditional costumes. 　　 SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): STEVE EL SATTY, Designer and tailor "I'm keen on designing and sewing clothes, especially traditional clothes. I'd like to preserve their folkloric color, history and authenticity while adding my touches and colors. I do everything to promote the traditional clothes."