Kurdistan is a region spanning Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, technically belonging to all these countries. Despite not being an independent nation, it covers 151,000 square miles—larger than Germany and the UK combined—and has a population of about 30 million people.

Since Kurdistan exists within multiple modern-day countries, its people speak more than just Kurdish. Arabic, Persian, and Turkish are also widely spoken.

Religion in Kurdistan is more diverse than one might expect. While Islam is the dominant faith—both Sunni and Shia—there are also communities of Assyrian Christians, Jews, and Yazidis.

Some Kurds in Kurdistan advocate for complete independence and separation, while others push for greater autonomy within their respective countries.

The Kurdish region of Iraq, for example, enjoys significant autonomy, maintaining its own military and parliament separate from the central government in Baghdad.

New Year’s in Kurdistan falls on March 21st, which might seem unusual, but it is similar to how Easter in the West marks the arrival of spring. Common celebrations include dancing and feasting.