First Iranian Generation in Charleston!

The first group of Iranians arriving in Charleston SC was in 1972.  A small group of Iranians Navy students came to study at the Citadel Military College.  From 1975 to 1978 larger groups of  Naval Midshipmen arrived in Charleston to begin their studies.   Everything changed in 1979 due to the uprising in Iran.  Because of this the majority of cadets had to leave Charleston and return to Iran.  A few stayed behind but most returned to Iran and found a way to return to Charleston, got their degree, got a job and got married and started families.   It was 1981 when we got together with our small Iranian community to celebrate our Nowruz.  We started with 20 to 25 people and would gather at an apartment clubhouse with food and decorations brought by everyone.  As Charleston became our second home and our families grew, we had almost 75 people attending the Nowruz party so we established a Charleston Iranian association and elected a committee. We celebrated in different venues over the years such as Hassan Saheb’s hair salon, church reception halls, MUSC’s sports center and James Island County Park. Some years we prepared the Iranian meal but most were catered by Saffrons.  Our celebration grew from 20 people to almost 300 last year. It is important to continue this event for our children and grandchildren to know the Iranian traditions of Nowruz, Sizdeh bedar, Yalda and other cultural customs. Some of the pioneers for the early Nowruz parties were Shahram Aghapour, Hamid and Aliz Bahadori, Mehdi and Azar Rahimi, Jafar and Connie Rajabi, Nasser and Lisa Razmyar, Yousef and Azam Rezaeerod, Reza and Lauren Shakibanasab, Hassan Valipour, Abolfazl Rajabi, Jafar Moghadam and Sherri Nester. Many others have contributed enormously over the years and we welcome all who are helping to bring our Iranian community together as we continue to grow.