Changes
== Culture ==
{{Main|Chaldean culture}}
[[File:Assyrianclothes23Chaldean Fashion Models with Chaldean Flag.jpg|thumb|Chaldean child dressed in traditional clothesFashion Models with Chaldean Flag]][[File:Chaldean Fashion of the Chaldean Nation.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Fashion of the Chaldean Nation]]
Chaldean culture is largely influenced by Christianity. Main festivals occur during religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas. There are also secular holidays such as [[Kha b-Nisan]] (vernal equinox).<ref>[http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html The Chaldean New Year]</ref>
=== Language ===
{{Main|Chaldean Neo-Aramaic languages}}{{Syriac Chaldean alphabet}}
The Neo-Aramaic languages are ultimately descended from [[Old Aramaic]], the lingua franca in the later phase of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, displacing the [[East Semitic]] [[Akkadian language|Assyrian dialect of Akkadian]]. Aramaic was the language of commerce, trade and communication and became the vernacular language of Assyria in classical antiquity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lightofword.org/aramaic/pdf/Introduction.pdf |title=Microsoft Word – PeshittaNewTestament.doc |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-11-16| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081202005322/http://www.lightofword.org/aramaic/pdf/Introduction.pdf| archivedate=2 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl=no}} {{dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>Bae, C. Aramaic as a Lingua Franca During the Persian Empire (538–333 BCE). Journal of Universal Language. March 2004, 1–20.</ref><ref name="imperial aramaic">[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0073-0548%28195512%2918%3A3%2F4%3C456%3AADOTFC%3E2.0.CO%3B2-F&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage Aramaic Documents of the Fifth Century B. C. by G. R. Driver]</ref>
[[File:Syriac Christian Churches.svg|thumb|right|Historical divisions within Syriac Christian Churches in the Middle East.]]
{{Main|Syriac Christianity}}
Assyrians belong to various [[Christian denominations]] such as the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], with an estimated 400,000 members,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_41.html#303 |title=Adherents.com |publisher=Adherents.com |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref> the Chaldean Catholic Church, with about 900,000 members,<ref>[J. Martin Bailey, Betty Jane Bailey, Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? p. 163: "more than two thirds" out of "nearly a million" Christians in Iraq.]</ref> and the Syriac Orthodox Church ''{{unicode|(ʿIdto Suryoyto Triṣaṯ Šuḇḥo)}}'', which has between 1,000,000 and 4,000,000 members around the world (only some of whom are Chaldeans),<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_622.html Adherents.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the [[Ancient Church of the East]] with some 100,000 members, and various [[Protestant]] churches, such as the [[Assyrian Pentecostal Church]] with 25,000 adherents, and the [[Assyrian Evangelical Church]]. While Chaldeans are predominantly [[Christians]], a number are [[irreligious]].
{{As of|20112015}} [[Mar Dinkha IVLouis Sako]], resident in Chicago IllinoisBaghdad Iraq, was [[Patriarch]] of the [[Assyrian Chaldeans Catholic Church of the East]], [[Mar Addai II]], with headquarters in Baghdad, was Patriarch of the [[Ancient Church of the East]], and [[Ignatius Zakka I Iwas]] was Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, with headquarters in [[Damascus]]. [[Emmanuel III Delly|Mar Emmanuel III Delly]], the former Patriarch of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]], was the first Patriarch to be elevated to Cardinal, joining the [[college of cardinals]] in November 2007.
Many members of the following churches consider themselves Chaldean. Ethnic identities are often deeply intertwined with religion, a legacy of the Ottoman [[Millet (Ottoman Empire)|Millet system]].
The group is traditionally characterized as adhering to various churches of [[Syriac Christianity]] and speaking Neo-Aramaic languages. It is subdivided into:
* adherents of the [[East Syrian Rite]] also known as '''Nestorians'''
** adherents of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] & [[Ancient Church of the East]]
** adherents of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]].
* adherents of the [[West Syrian Rite]] also known as '''Jacobites'''
** adherents of the Syriac Catholic Church
A small minority of Chaldeans of the above denominations accepted the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 20th century, possibly due to British influences, and is now organized in the [[Assyrian Evangelical Church]], the [[Assyrian Pentecostal Church]] and other Protestant Chaldean groups.
Baptism and First Communion are celebrated extensively, similar to a [[Bris]] or [[Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah|Bar Mitzvah]] in Jewish communities. After a death, a gathering is held three days after burial to celebrate the ascension to heaven of the dead person, as of [[Jesus]]; after seven days another gathering commemorates their death. A close family member wears only black clothes for forty days and nights, or sometimes a year, as a sign of mourning.
=== Dance ===
{{Main|Assyrian Chaldean folk dance}} [[File:CHALDEAN-FESTIVAL-2.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Debka Dance]]
Chaldeans have numerous traditional [[dance]]s which are performed mostly for special occasions such as weddings. Chaldean dance is a blend of both ancient indigenous and general near eastern elements.
=== Festivals ===
[[File:WEBBabylonDay4.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Debka Dance]] Chaldean/Syriac festivals tend to be closely associated with their Christian faith, of which [[Easter]] is the most prominent of the celebrations. Chaldean/Syriac members of the Chaldean Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church and Syriac Catholic Church follow the [[Gregorian calendar]] and as a result celebrate Easter on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 inclusively.<ref>[http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/easter.php The Date of Easter]. Article from [[United States Naval Observatory]] (March 27, 2007).</ref> While Chaldean/Syriac members of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Ancient Church of the East celebrate Easter on a Sunday between April 4 and May 8 inclusively on the Gregorian calendar (March 22 and April 25 on the [[Julian calendar]]). During [[Lent]] Chaldean/Syriacs are encouraged to fast for 50 days from meat and any other foods which are animal based.
Chaldeans celebrate a number of festivals unique to their culture and traditions as well as religious ones:
* Somikka, the Chaldean version of [[Halloween]], traditionally meant to scare children into fasting during Lent.
* Kalu d'Sulaqa, celebration of the legend of Malik Shalita.
* Nusardyl, commemorating the baptism of the Chaldeans of Urmia by St. Thomas.<ref name="cultureofiran.com">[http://www.cultureofiran.com/assyrian_festivals.html "Assyrian Festivals and Events in IranMesopotamia Iraq"], ''Encyclopædia Iranica''</ref>
* Sharra d'Mart Maryam, usually on August 15, a festival and feast celebrating St. Mary with games, food, and celebration.<ref name="cultureofiran.com" />
* Other Sharras (special festivals) include: Sharra d'Mart Shmuni, Sharra d'Mar Shimon Bar-Sabbaye, Sharra d'Mar Mari, and Shara d'Mar Zaia, Mar Bishu, Mar Sawa, Mar Sliwa, and Mar Odisho
* Yoma d'Sah'deh (Day of Martyrs), commemorating the thousands massacred in the [[Simele Massacre]] and the hundreds of thousands massacred in the [[Assyrian Chaldean Genocide]].
Chaldeans also practice unique marriage ceremonies. The rituals performed during weddings are derived from many different elements from the past 37,000 300 years. An Chaldean wedding traditionally lasted a week. Today, weddings in the Chaldean homeland usually last 2–3 days; in the [[Assyrian Chaldean diaspora]] they last 1–2 days.
=== Traditional clothing ===
