The History of the Hookah

While smoking hookah was introduced to the U.S. in the 1960's, this ancient practice only recently began to become popular in mainstream America.  With in the last five to seven years, hookah bars have begun popping up everywhere becoming a new social medium.  Much different from smoking cigarettes, hookah is considered a social activity meant to encourage discussion and understanding.Hookah originally began in northwest India and made its way to Turkey about 500 years ago.  It rose to fame under the Ottoman Empire's rule around the time of Murat V in 1623-1640.  The Turkish upper class greatly enjoyed the past time and helped increase its popularity in the middle east.  It was often smoked after royal dinners and diplomatic meetings.  It even became a status symbol of sorts and many sultans would get portraits with their exotic hookahs.Often times, the terminology surrounding modern day hookahs is often misused or misinterpreted from their arab and persian roots.  In the middle east hookahs are referred to as Narghile, the Persian word for coconut, as they were initially made from coconut shells.  The narghile is composed of four parts: Agizlik (mouthpiece), Lüle (the top of the nargile), Marpuç (the tube) and the Gövde (the body of the pipe which is filled with water).  The word shisha developed when hookahs began to be made with glass and actually refers to the glass base not the tobacco.  Today, hookah bars are social places where many people get together to discuss politics and local events.  Ismet Ertep of Turkey once said that "Cigarettes are for nervous people, competitive people, people on the run. When you smoke a narghile, you have time to think. It teaches you patience and tolerance, and gives you an appreciation of good company. Narghile smokers have a much more balanced approach to life than cigarette smokers." It is this philosophy and appriceation that governs many modern day hookah lovers.