Abstract

In trying to determine the function of traditional rituals in Iran, a special term employed in anthropological studies can be useful for opening a horizon for the perception of ritualistic space: non-state normative orders. Here the question arises of where these rituals took root? In the eyes of other Islamic countries, the heart of the Shiite culture is found in Iran. In contrast to other Islamic cultures, the Iranian culture includes distinctive cultural norms. Some powerful sources, such as religion, cults, and myths, played a major role in forming the collective and ritualistic behavior of the folk before their conversion to Islam. After their conversion to Islam, shrines and the ritual of pilgrimage bridged the gap between two systems of values, each of which conveyed different normative orders. Owing to the mediating role of these rituals, a tolerant and flexible form of norms has evolved.