Although Christmas was not a traditional holiday, the court of Nāṣer al-Dīn Shāh (r. 1848–1896) witnessed occasional Christmas celebrations and observances, especially during the latter half of his reign. These events reflected the growing presence of European diplomats, advisors, merchants, and missionaries in Tehran, as well as the Shah’s own fascination with European culture. He is remembered as the first Persian monarch to travel to Europe. His journeys to Russia and Western Europe in the 1870s exposed him to new customs, including Christmas festivities, lavish decorations, and winter markets.
Upon returning to Iran, he occasionally encouraged symbolic gestures of hospitality toward foreign representatives. While Christmas was not officially celebrated, the royal court often acknowledged it diplomatically. Foreign embassies in Tehran—particularly the British, French, and Russian—decorated their halls for the holiday. They sometimes invited Persian courtiers to receptions where European guests gathered around Christmas trees brought in or crafted locally. Reports from foreign envoys describe receptions attended by ministers of the Qajar government, with music, European-style dining, and gift exchanges.
