The Heritage of the Hejaz: Its Culture and Traditions
By Chaman Rahim Ph.D
Not much has been written on the Heritage of the Hejaz or as it is sometimes called “ The Cradle of Islam” .Its unique culture and traditions is different from many parts of the Arabian Peninsula. This region is often referred to as the’ melting pot’ of cultures because migrants from all around the globe have come for pilgrimage in different periods and often stayed back. These immigrants introduced their culture which amalgamated with the home culture and created a very unique culture of its own.
Location and History
Hejaz in Saudi Arabia, occupying an area of some 2 million sq km ,is bordered on the west by the Red Sea, on the north by Jordan, on the east by Najd and on the south by Asir. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. As the site of Islam's holy places, the Hejaz has significance in the Araband Islamic historical and political landscape.
The Hijaz takes its name and it character from al Hijaz, the barrier formed by the great escarpment that rises to the south like a wall behind Makkah and runs parallel to the coasts as far as Yemen. Historically both nomadic and settled communities inhabited this area but the Hijaz’s urban centers… the Islamic holy cities of Makkah and Madinah as well as Jeddah and Taif have dominated its development during the past 14 centuries. Looking not inland but towards the sea, the Hijaz gained its international reputation for trade and as focus of Haj, which contributed to its relative economic prosperity and enhanced its political significance. ( Yamani)
Until recently , very little was known about the early inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. Modern archeological research and excavations have unveiled some of the mystery
1 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia surrounding the prehistoric people of this area.As a result, it is now widely accepted that today’s Arabian deserts were neither all desert nor completely uninhabited .
While the history of many regions in Africa, Arabia , Central Asia and India have s not yet been thoroughly researched, it is believed that 100,000 years ago, a wave of Homo Sapiens migrated out of East Africa. Some experts suggest that at the time, Arabia’s now dry rivers and lakes had an abundance of water and offered a lush and welcoming environment for these Stone age hunter gatherers.
In their quest for survival, the early nomads used caves as shelter. Excavations in this area have uncovered a wealth of Stone Age tools and illustrations.( Al Hariri)
It is thought that about 15000 years ago, a gradual and major weather change resulted in a worldwide warming trend. As a result ,the Peninsula streams dried up, the lakes vanished and the forest shrank. Faced with harsh living conditions some of the early inhabitants migrated north while other settled in the remaining arable land or adopted a nomadic way of life. During this Neolithic period (8500-5000) BC the new agro based communities gave birth to sedentary village life.Sheep goats and cattle were domesticated and some early form of trade around with exchange of certain items. Sedentary life also gave birth to numerous crafts life weaving and pottery.. This resulted in the change of diet, food preparation and preservation.It also introduced a new major trading commodity.(Al Hariri)
Culture and Traditions
Historically, a festival is defined as “An organized set of special events on a specific cultural man made theme taking place on a specific day or period normally on a specific place gathering people in mutual and direct contact to the festival theme”.(Lyck& Long, 2012) Based on this definition therefore, there is strong implication that management is important to have the festival organized as the definition includes the words „man-made‟ and „cultural‟. The definition also stipulates that festivals usually take place within the confinements of a particular geographical area. .Another aspect on the view of festivals is the fact that since the festivals are
2 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia tied up for certain duration of time, and may often recur in occurrence with the period being annual or same season of the year.
Based on this detailed analysis of factors surrounding festival, it is therefore acceptable to categorize a wide variety of events in the Hejaz, Saudi Arabia, and specifically in Jeddah as festivals. This contrasts with the popular notion that festivals are simply limited to a certain type of celebrations. In accordance with this broad perspective, Hejaz festivals may include both Religious and Non- Religious Festivals such as Jeddah Youth Festival, Jeddah Ghair Festival, Jeddah shopping Festival, Historic Jeddah Events, Jeddah Economic Forum, Saudi Food, Hotels & Hospitality Exhibition and even Hajj.
Religious Festivals
There are several Religious festivals that take place in the Hijaz such as, Eid al Fitr, EidAdha, Weddings Rahmani and some more. This paper will shred a glimpse of some of the important ones.
Ramadan
It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast. Ramadan is an Arabic word; its root “ArRamad” means “dryness/heat.”Muslims who are physically able are required to fast each day of the entire month, from sunrise to sunset. The evenings are spent enjoying family and community meals, praying, and reading from the Qu'ran .During Ramadan, every part of the body must be controlled. The tongue must be controlled from gossip. The eyes must control themselves from looking at prohibited things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to the person. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast. Ramadan is the most peaceful month of the year, and all Muslims look forward to its arrival with eager anticipation. During Ramadan, fasting takes place from sunrise to sunset, but as soon as the call for prayer is heard, the fast is broken, usually with dates and Arabic coffee. Many varieties of food are spread out on the„sufra‟(Table) . Most of the families in Saudi Arabia gather at the head of the family‟s house, this usually being the grandfather, where they will eat either Eftar (breakfast), and/or Sahoor(late dinner). 3 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Even with mosques in every area , people still like to listen to the Adaan of Magrib( the call for prayer) on TV, where the channels show the prayer in Makkah and Madinah. However, children find great excitement in waiting on the roofs of their houses for the Adaan, then running and shouting to tell everybody that it’s time to eat. In some areas of Saudi, it is traditional to fire a canon at Magrib to notify the people that it’s eating time. The typical activities during Ramadan would be Sahoor: Meal before dawn and the first prayer of the day.
th Iftar: breaking of the fast at Sunset (coincides with the 4 daily prayer).
Ziarat: Social gatherings e.g. visiting relatives, sharing food with neighbours, friends, and the poor. Tarawih: Optional Prayers at early night (20-21hrs) Qiraat: Reading of the Qur’ãn during free time.
Qiam: Optional late-night prayers in the last 10 days (02-04hrs).
Misaharaty
Another interesting thing that took place ( and still exists in the old town and villages) is that people would be woken up for Suhur by ‘Misaharaty’. This is the name given to the person who walks and beats a drum in residential areas to wake people up to eat their Suhor (a meal eaten before the beginning of the fast) before morning prayers. El Misaharaty was always accompanied by the children of the neighborhood who enjoyed helping him in beating his drums and calling out:”Es ha yanayem…Wahed el dayem….Ramadan Karim…Es ha yanayem… Wahed el razaq…” meaning "Awake, oh faster and praise Allah. Welcome to you Ramadan, month of forgiveness." He would start his round at 3:00 am .
Laylat al Qader
A particularly holy time during Ramadan, Laylatal Qadir commemorates the anniversary of the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet (Pbuh),No one knows exactly 4 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia
when it takes place except that it was on an odd day during the last 10 days of Ramadan.During that period, almost 3 million people perform prayers at the Haram Mosque.
Eid al Fitr
Eid al Fitr takes place at the end of one month of Holy Ramadan and is the most celebrated festival , among all Muslims everywhere.This festival has been celebrated in the region for over 1400 years. It has since evolved and yet, there are strong traditions regarding it that are still celebrated today. The people of Hijaz start celebrating Eid since the moon is sighted on the night before. Although most celebrations last for 3 days, some people celebrate up to six days. On the Eid day, men and women wear new clothes and head for the Masjid early in the morning, where they offer their Eid prayers. After the prayer, people hug and greet each other, usually saying “Eid Mubarak”. The families head to the “big house”, which is usually the house of the eldest member of the family, to enjoy breakfast. According to Humaidan (2011), “The main dish is Al-Dibyaza, which is made of dry fruits, sugar and water. Traditional sweets, such as Hareesa, Labna and Allado, are added to the table along with cheese and olive”.During these celebrations it is customary to give kids „Eidi‟, which is a gift given on the occasion. Eidi could be money, candies or any other gift that a person wishes to give.
Eid al Adha
Eid al Adha is the second Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims all over the world. This usually takes place on the 10th of Zul Hijja, and is an important step to complete the Hajj, for the hajjis (people performing Hajj).
Eid al Adha is celebrated commemorate the sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim had made. He was commanded by Allah to sacrifice his son Ismael. Just as he was about to sacrifice his son, an angel swapped his son with a ram, and he sacrificed it instead. Therefore, this act is 5 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia repeated and celebrated on the day of Eid al Adha, where a „qurbani‟ is made, which is the sacrifice of an animal, usually a ram or goat.
Likewise, on this day people dress in new clothes and meet with their family and friends. People also give money to enable poorer members of their local community and around the world to eat a meat-based meal. Moreover, they enjoy the day by dancing and singing, especially having Mizmar, a form of dance using wooden sticks, among men.
Weddings
Traditional arranged marriage
The ladies from both the groom’s and bride’s families pick the spouses in agreement with each other. In old Jeddah the women were responsible for observing the brides manners etc.
After they have selected the bride and the groom they do the Khotba (engagement) and the father of the bride negotiates the dower (mehr) with the groom family and then they prepare the contract. Traditional marriage is about binding families and tribes. The spouses do not meet before the wedding andShofa.( the viewing)
Modern marriages have changed from the traditional ones. The groom and the bride may have already met before the engagement , unlike the traditional marriage. The spouses might have met before the marriage ,because they are from the same extended family, Moreover, they might have met while they were traveling or attending the same university while they studied abroad. As for the customs of the wedding, after the family accepts the man's proposal , he may have a look at her ;he comes with presents to ask for her hand.. If the girl accepts him as a husband she would accept the presents.
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The Viewing (Shofa
After the Shofa, The elders in both families had to agree upon the amount of the money that would be given to the bride and the other arrangements.In early days in Saudi Arabia these specifications were not necessary due to the kinship marriage, there was a prior agreement among families about everyone's husband/wife since a child is born.
Al-Ghumra: Al Ghumra is a special kind of celebration, which takes place before the wedding night or sometimes before the week of the wedding.
Hijaz has special traditions in all kind of celebrations. Some people may call it henna which means that the bride covers herself ,تغمر night. The actual meaning of Ghumra in Arabic is with gold and pearls and different kinds of unique colored fabrics. In some cities like Madina, Ghumra is a must in the wedding celebrations. They consider it as one of the most important stages in a wedding.
What the bride wears in a Ghumra differs from one city to another in the Hejaz. The bride should cover her face with a veil containing gold coins and pearls, a gift from the groom. The main purpose of this veil is to cover her face from the groom and other people until the day of the wedding. The Bride‟s costume will contain several colors designed by some gold and pearls. The bride‟s clothes are called “Al-Zabon”.
Ghumra usually takes place at the bride‟s house, where the bride invites all her friends and family to celebrate her marriage, and have drawn beautiful designs by a herb called “henna” on their hands and legs. However, the bride is only allowed to show her hands and legs to draw beautiful designs of henna.
Guests should bring some valuable gifts to give to the bride. These gifts usually contain a huge selection of perfumes, and sometimes gold. The bride, her family, and their guests will spend the night celebrating by singing and dancing.
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The main purpose of this celebration in Hejaz is to celebrate marriage. Also, it‟s a great opportunity to enjoy the old traditions of this region.
Wedding ( Melka)
Thereafter the engagement there is something called Melka, which is doing the marriage contract that Islam requires as one of the marriage pillars. People in the Hejaz usually do the marriage contract in one of the two places ; in the holy mosque or at the brides house. In the case of signing the contract in the holy mosque, the groom, his family, friends and the bride‟s family sit in a circle and the sheikh sits in the middle to perform the contract rituals. Moreover, the groom sits on the left side of the sheikh and the groom‟s father sits on the right side so they can hold each other‟s hands and say the sayings after the sheikh. On the other hand, if the contract is culminated in the bride‟s house, the bride‟s family serve the guests appetizers that contain Hejaz's sweets such laddoo and labania. After completing the marriage contract, the groom gives the Maher to the bride covered with a white cloth in a perfumed golden box as kind of respect.
Wedding ceremony is the most beautiful occasion in the Hijaz, and everyone present share the happiness with the groom and bride. Before the wedding, most of the neighbors offer their help to both the bride and groom's families and commonly, neighbors give their house keys to both the families and tell them that „our houses are yours‟ as a kind of co-operation and help. In preparation for the invitations, the side that is responsible for doing the wedding brings a calligrapher to write the invitation cards that includes the couple names , date , time and place.On the wedding day , the groom usually wears a white „thobe‟ with short jacket without sleeves . With the thobe he wears an orange ‘Umma’ in his head. At the beginning of the wedding ceremony, the groom‟s family and friends give him something called “Refd” which is money given to the bride and the groom as kind of support in their new life. In the ceremony, there is a singer called “Jesses” .He is the one who sings the whole night and during the wedding procession. In addition to that, there is a special dance on the men‟s side called “Mezmar” which is holding sticks and dance as if they‟re fighting and once the groom dances all the people dance around him while holding the sticks.
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Dower or Meher in the early days Forty years ago, the average dower was approximately 2000-4000 Riyals, whereas a half a century ago , when there were no paper currencies, it was 30-40 gold coins equivalent to SR 1000 . In the 14 th.Century the average dower was about 30 Riyals.In those days, the dower would be put in a white tissue and placed inside a box with perfumed green sticks.
Al JOJO This is an old festival which is not celebrated anymore. The main reason why this celebration started in Hijaz is because of its special geographic place. Al-JOJO is a welcome party for people who performed Hajj for the first time. People usually sing a specific phrase, which is:
”... جابىحمصجابىحالوة.. جىجىحجىوجى"
JO means „came back‟ which represents the whole purpose of this celebration. The whole process is concluded by the Hajji “the person who came back from haj” presenting gifts to his close family and friends. JOJO will include all parts of the family, “kids and adults”.
The Hajji “the person who came back from hajj” will place all the gifts in a piece of soft fabric, usually white. Kids will sit under it while the Hajji and his family will start moving this fabric till all the gifts fall down.Gifts will include plenty of candies and sometimes may include money. Adults will usually get the money while kids will be busy eating all kinds of candies.
This celebration reflects the Islamic background of Hejaz. This event celebrates the great blessing that the Hajji got for performing Hajj.
Rahmani (sabu)
During the 40 days confinement period after birth of a baby, there is a major gathering where the naming ceremony is held for new born. It is called Rahmani ( the ceremony of the merciful one) or Sabu ( the ceremony of naming the new).Emphasizing the basic formal religious ceremony, the Tasmiya:, the opening sura of the Quran is recited . Then the call of prayer,
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Adaan, pronounced in the baby‟s ear and the name of the child is pronounced . Unless a Sayyid came for the purpose, it was the senior most family member who performed this ritual. This was followed by agiga:2 goats were slaughtered for the boy and one for the girl. Before the Sabu was a male event but now it is mixed. Sometimes women Sabu evenings comprises of music, with a large meal of lamb and almonds. Although Rahmani takes place usually in the day, children holding candles dance around the baby singing rahmaniyarahmani .The candles symbolize light.This feast is a joyful occasion from the children point of view,and is greatly enhanced by the sweets they are given.
Non Religious Festivals
Each year festivals are held in various parts of the country to celebrate the heritage of the people. Throughout the year, festivals are held in various parts of the country for reunion, development purposes and to strengthen beliefs of society. Jeddah City is regarded as the major commercial city in Saudi Arabia. It has the largest seaport of Saudi Arabia and the largest transportation network that links the city with its surrounding region (Murad, 2011). Jeddah is the gateway to the Holy mosques in Makkah and Medina. The profound economic activities make Jeddah a melting pot for the multicultural experience. The cultural diversity is a fertile ground for festivals and is a further enhanced by the more open and interactive character of the city, which clearly distinguishes it from other cities in Saudi Arabia.
One of the most celebrated festivals is the Jenadriyah Heritage (in the Najd) and Cultural Festival(In the Hejaz). It is organized by the Natural Guard. Its major goal is to highlight Saudi Arabia‟s commitment to keeping its traditional culture, practices and skills alive. This spectacular event runs for two weeks. The opening ceremony is characterized by a camel race, and then follows the festivals which highlight each and every aspect of the Saudi Arabia culture.
The crafts from artisans are paraded. Most common of these are metal smiths, basket weavers, potters, blacksmiths and jewelers. As these artisans showcase their work, they give the
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“On Saturday, June 21, 2014, his Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTA, announced the inclusion of “historical Jeddah” in the “world Heritage List” of UNESCO. This was verily the fruit of great efforts made by SCTA in cooperation with the Makkah province and the Jeddah municipality for many years towards the development and advancement of the historical area. The efforts were made within the framework of an integrated project for the rehabilitation of Historic Jeddah it into a national heritage site (SAMIRAD, 2014).”
The “Historic Jeddah Festival” is a unique festival, and the first of its kind in the city of Jeddah. It recalls the past of both the place and the people and explores the development through which the Bride of the Red Sea, (Jeddah city) has traversed for more than a half a century.
The core purpose of this festival is to promote the “Kingdom as the House of culture, literature and Arabian and Islamic history, while, preserving the heritage and the cultural treasures” (SCTA, 2009) It links the celebrated past of the Kingdom with its flourishing present, showcasing the episodes of last century. It also introduces the visitors and the new generations to the heritage, culture, traditions and history from Jeddah.
An additional festival is the Secretariat‟s Jeddah Youth Festival which involves young people with various skills. These may include amateur and professional skiers, graffiti artists, photographers and football fanatics. The Jeddah Municipalty Festival activities‟ targets, about a half a million youthful Saudis.
Jeddah Shopping Festival is a another festival that includes various entertainment and sport programs that feature all family members.
Historic Jeddah Events is yet another festival that includes cultural, heritage, and entertainment events for families and children.
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Jeddah Economic Forum is one of the most important economic festivals to be attended by leading decision-makers and business leaders in the Middle East. This Forum aims at discussing means of achieving an effective economic growth, while creating job opportunities and alleviating unemployment.
Saudi food, Hotels & Hospitality Exhibition is yet another festival where over 400 local and international companies exhibit food in the catering industry, hotel equipment, supplies and services, and packaging technology..(SAMIRAD, 2014)
The Kingdom holds both traditional and modern sports .Horse racing was one of the most popular sporting events in Saudi Arabia. It still remains very popular today. Locals have for centuries bred the animals for racing and transportation. The famous Arabian horse has a bloodline that dates back thousands of years, and is one of the world‟s most sought-after breeds. There are modern racetracks in the Kingdom, although betting is prohibited.
Another popular sports is Camel racing. Traditionally it was a sport of the Bedouins. It is a major spectacle and is celebrated by thousands of onlookers. In the past, races involved thousands of camels speeding across the open desert. Today, the rules have been modified for modern racetracks, and camel races are held every Monday during the winter at the stadium in Riyadh.
Yet another traditional sport is hunting with hounds and falconry. The swift saluki hound, named after an ancient city in southern Arabia, is generally considered by historians to be the world‟s oldest domesticated dog. Falconry in the Kingdom today is carefully regulated in order to protect the game fowl that is the falcon‟s traditional prey.
The following are some of the many other festivals that take place in the Hejaz :
Meccan Festival The Areej Foundation under the general supervision of the Holy City officers organize the Meccan Festival between the present and the past, where the festival features a series of events and leisure activities , which include but are not limited to the old games for children and traditional exhibitions and banquets. 12 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia
The Dates Festival Dates season begin mid-August, in celebration of the harvest carried out by farmers the date festival is held and lasts for75 days. More than 45 products from various kindsof dates are displayed and sold .Buraidah festival receives two hundred thousand tons as aresult of harvesting more than eight million palm trees. It isrecorded that the daily sales number, which at its peak exceeds 25 million SR per day. Chief Executive Khalid Anakadan states : In 2013 the festival raised two billion riyals ( $ 533 million ) .
Folk Music and Dance Saudi folk music has been shaped by the nomadic Bedouins and the pilgrims who brought musical influence from all around the world.Music varies from region to region. In the Hijaz, the prominent type of music is known as ‘Al-Sihba’ which combines poetry and songs of Arab Andalusia, while the music of Makkah and Madinah reflects these two cities‟ influences throughout the Islamic World.
Poetry Poetry is of utmost importance to Arab cultural life, and is considered to be the highest form of literary art. In the days when the Bedouins were constantly traveling, poetry was an oral tradition. People would gather around a storyteller, who would speak of love, bravery, chivalry, war, and historic events. This was both entertaining and served as an oral preservation of history, traditions and values. The Holy Qur‟an took the Arab love of language and poetry to new levels. The Holy Qur‟an symbolizes the perfect use of the Arabic language, and is considered to be the ultimate literary Model.Poetry remains popular among Saudis today. They gather at cultural events, most notably the Jenadriyah National Culture and Heritage Festival, where the most prominent poetry is read and critiqued ..Literary work is celebrated in Janadriyya (Najd) and Souq Okaz (Hijaz).
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Souk Okaz
In Pre-Islamic & Early-Islamic Saudi Arabia, the Souk Okaz was held during the four sacred months of the year, all warfare and raiding were banned to provide security for trading caravans.This permitted the celebration of annual festivals! These Festivals were the only time where members of different clans interacted freely. The most important Hijazi festival, and arguably the most significant venue for music making, was Souq Okaz. Its location was in an oasis outside of Taif - vast palm grove controlled by two Bedouin confederations. The festival flourished in the 6th century, and was an unrivaled event for arts and provided a Peninsula-wide converging point for merchants and buyers to come for peaceful and profitable trade .At the same time, pre-Islamic pilgrims could visit Makkah. Poets, minstrels, and a variety of singers flooded into the fair to participate at the great annual poetry contest where texts were sung! The fair provided a venue for a singing and composition contest. Participants came from Hijaz, Najd, Yemen, and other Arab regions to sing qasai‟d (odes). The poet-musicians did not improvise, rather prepared with utmost care for this special event. During the 20-day long event, all wanted to impress the master judge, because the culture had the highest regard for literary achievement. Victory in Okaz meant recognition and honor throughout Arabia. Souq Okaz survived into the 8th century .Its vitality declined after the rise of Islam due to change of trade routes and roles of tribes Souq Okaz today represents a unique and important tourist attractions in the Kingdom.It is a prime destination for a large number of tourists due to its deep historical roots. The Souq reveals all of the glorious past and the modernity of today‟s Kingdom.Today, the event is designed to express the beauty of the region‟s history, while reflecting on present day modern gloss.
Jeddah Historic festival Historic Jeddah Festival is considered a festival, the first of its kind in the city of Jeddah that recalls the past of both the place and the people in the past, in a period of time through which the Bride of theRed Sea, (Jeddah city) had passed over more than half a century ago.
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The festival aims to promote the Kingdom as the House of culture, literature and Arabian and Islamic history, while, preserving the heritage and the cultural treasures and values. It links the glorious past of the Kingdom with its prosperous present, allowing the people of Jeddah and visitors to touch the episodes of the last century, and it introduces new generations to the heritage, culture, traditions and history of the residents of the Historic Jeddah area.
Kunna Kida ( we were like that) Kunnakida is a festival unique to the Hijaz. It is mainly celebrated in Jeddah during the winter. It is a historic festival, which showcases the old traditions of the Hijaz in order to reconnect with the past.According to Khan (2014), “By portraying professions that are no longer in business, the festival aims at publicizing the old traditions, cultures, and way of life in places like Jeddah and the Hijaz.” There are forty nine different activities exhibited, enjoyed by over 80,000 people per day. The festival also has an open area with several booths selling traditional Hijazi food and drinks
Costumes In the Hejazi culture, men and women wear several different costumes in different occasions. In the case of men, for example, their cloths include Thawb, Sirwal, Umama, Bisht, and others. For women, on the other hand, traditional clothe s include Kurta, Mihramah and Mudawwarah, and Zabun. Some interviews were conducted with the Hejazi people; and in the following paragraphs , each costume will be described briefly according to the interviews.
Costumes of Males in Hejaz
Hejazi men wear clothes that are similar to clothes of the Saudis in the Kingdom, but with few differences. These costumes are:
Sudairi (Traditional Vest): It is mainly a sleeveless jacket that men wear on top of the thawb. It can be of several colors such as orange, off-white, and black. Hejazi men used to wear this vest on a daily basis; however, nowadays some men wear it in special occasions such as Eid AL- Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, and weddings
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Umama (Hejazi Turban):
It is one of the headdresses that Hejazi men used to wear, especially the Ulema and scholars. It is basically a piece of fabric, usually in the color of orange or white, which is folded around the head taking the shape of a turban. It is usually worn with the Sudairi.
Thaub It is a traditional costume that all Saudis wear including the Hejaz. It is a long garment with long sleeves that is made out of white cotton mainly. However, sometimes the color and the fabric change, especially during cold weather Ghutra and Shumagh: Ghutra and Shumagh are types of headdresses that are worn by all Saudis including Hejazi men. Ghutra is piece of white textile that is made of cotton. Men wear it over the kufeyya (Taqiyya) in a form of triangle shape. In addition, the Shumagh is similar to Ghutra, but it is red colored.
Sirwal and Faneela:
The Sirwal is a long white pant that is made out of cotton. Men usually wear it as an undergarment under the Thawb. Moreover, the Faneela is white shirt that men wear with the Sirwal under the Thawb. It is also made out of cotton fabric. Bisht: It is a long gown that all Saudi men wear including Hejazis, specifically during special occasions. For example, the groom at his wedding wears the Bisht that is usually made out of cotton. The colors of the Bisht include black, brown, grey, and off-white.
Accessories: Hejazi men wear accessories such as Iqal, Khanjar, and Madas. First, the Iqal is a black round rope the men place on the top of the Shumagh or Ghutra. Second, the Khanjar (Dagger) is a small knife that Hejazi men place on their
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waists.
Finally, the Madas is a special leathered sandal that Saudi men wear.
Costumes of Females in Hejaz
Women in the Hejaz region are dressed with the Kurtah and Pants: Hejazi women used to wear Kurtah, which is a long dress with different colors and patterns. They also wear long pants under the Kurtah. In addition ,Hejazi women used to wear a tight blouse under the Kurtah, which is called Sidaireeya.
Mihramah and Mudawwarah: This costume consists of three different parts, which are Shambar, Mihramah, and Mudawwarah. Each piece has a different shape; for example, the Shambar has a triangular shape, the Mihramahhas a rectangular shape, and the Mudawwarah has a square shape. These three pieces are worn by the Hejazi women on their top of their heads. In fact, women decorate the Mihramah and Mudawwarah by diamond brooches in special occasions such as weddings.
Zabun or Madini: Zabun is a traditional costume that is usually worn by Hejazi brides in the Ghumra (Henna) night. Ghumra is basically a celebration that occurs a week before the wedding night, and it is similar to a bridal shower. Thus, in this occasion the Zabun is worn by the Hejazi bride, especially in Madinah. It is made out of a special fabric called Tull. It used to be produced in India or Pakistan; however, nowadays it is produced in Makkah. This special costume is composed of several parts such as the dress, the head cover, and the veil, and each part is embroidered by gold or pearls.
Abaya: Abaya is a costume that all women in Saudi Arabia should wear above their actual dress when they are outside their homes. It consists of two pieces, which are the Abaya and the Tarha.
17 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia
The abaya is a long cover that covers the whole body. It is usually black, but it can be of many other colors such navy blue, and brown. The Tarha is a scarf that covers the head, and it usually comes with the Abaya
In conclusion, the Hejazi culture is influenced by cultures and traditions of different countries. One important reason is due to the settlement of many pilgrims in Hejaz after performing pilgrimage. Therefore, the costumes of the Hejaz have also been affected by the different cultures
Abayas
Cuisine in the Hejaz
From the earliest times and before Islam, people used to come to the Hejaz by caravans and land on the ports of Jeddah and Yenbu, for trading, and exchanging commodities. However after the rise of Islam, pilgrims increasingly started to come to visit the holy mosques of Makkah and al Madina so that the Hejaz became the most sacred place for the visitors. Many of the pilgrims have settled and lived in the Hejaz, that indeed had a huge impact on the main population of Hejaz not only on the customs and the language, but also on the cuisines.
The Hejaz‟s cuisine has adopted many of the exotic dishes from different countries such as Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and Central Asia that nowadays it has is difficult to distinguish them as foreign. Speaking of The Hejaz cuisine, many of the Hejazis still eat the same kind of food
18 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia that the ancient nomadic people used to eat such as dates, bread, yogurt, milk, rice, and meat. (Nawwab, 1999)
However , time and occasion of consumption of the above may vary . For instance , The Hejazis tend to eat light in morning and heavy in the evening; such as , dates and Arabic coffee are consumed everyday and it is served to all the guests; also most of the Hejaz people in Ramadan break their fast with water, Arabic coffee and dates.
Breakfast is a very important meal for Hijazis and the most luxurious breakfast that Hijazis like to start their days with is the kibdabaldi (liver) made with vinegar and fresh garlic. This is commonly found in the baladkoshks (corner boutiques). Another common thing is the masoob . It is made of small round discs of brown wheat called (hamees). It is grown in Taif. It is baked in oven and after that banana and cream is added to it. Sometimes Dates, or samin balady (ghee or butter) is also added. It is eaten in the morning with tea. Hareesa is also prepared the same way as masoob except boiled meat ( instead of banana)and samin or butter is added to the wheat and eaten with honey or sugar. This is originally from Hadramot and is usually eaten on the first day of Eid breakfast. Fool and tamees is the most popular breakfast due to its affordability and nutritious values. Fool traces its origin from Egypt while tamees is from Afghanistan.. Tamees is a kind of bread made in the oven and it may be of many kinds . Another popular breakfast meal is Metabag. It is a pastry that came fromYemen a long time ago. Metabag can be both sweet and salty. The salty is the more popular and has fillings of eggs and celery. The sweet Metabag has fillings from cream, cheese, or banana. (Wikipedia,2015)
Lunchtime is the best mealtime to socialize and gather with family and friends in the Hejaz‟s culture. According to the Saudi tourism ,usually the kind of diet that are served during afternoon and evening are heavier, for example the most well known dish in the Hejaz region is AlSileeq which is prepared by boiling the meat and the resulting meat broth is used to cook the white rice and mixing it with milk or ghee. They may be of two types, „’Al-Sileeq Al-Arabi’’ which is made in the rural areas and „‟ Alsileeq al Makawwi’’ that is cooked in holy Makkah. Usually, Al-Sileeq is prepared for special occasions such as weddings and Eids and when the weather is cold. In the same way is Al Mabshour that consists of minced meat or chicken and
19 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia ghee with some garlic and black paper and white rice is served on special occasions. Also one of the other famous dishes in Hejaz‟s cuisine is Al-Sayyadiah which is well known in the coastal cities such as in Jeddah. Al-Sayyadiahis prepared on family gathering occasions especially on weekends. Al-Sayyadiah is prepared with Seafood such as shrimp and calamari and cooked with brown rice and shredded onion, and often served with sesame paste (Tahina). Yet another favorite dish for Hejazi people is “ Ruzblhummos’’ which is white rice mixed with chickpeas and it is cooked with either chicken or meat. Ruzbl Hummos is particularly prepared on day of a funeral. (Nawab)
There are other types of dishes and drinks that are made only on special days of the year. For generations, a memory of a special day is always associated and remembered by that special dish or meal. For example; on the first day of the Hijri year ,the Hijazi house will have two main things ; green molokiya (a kind of leaves) for lunch because it is said that God will make it a green year on them, and looz (almond) coffee so God will also make it a white year for them. The almond coffee is also prepared when the children fail or pass school as a motivator to do better the next time. The looz coffee does not contain actual coffee, it is made of almonds, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom. As for the green molokiya, it is eaten with white rice or bread. Also Hijazis tend to prepare Mammoul during Haj for the people going for haj because it is a light and healthy snack. It is like a filled biscuit. Originally it used to be filled with dates but now they also have it with pistachio, cashews, other kinds of nuts and even chocolates. (Okaz, 2012)
Finally it may be concluded that the Hijazi cuisine has rich and varied types of dishes. One cannot pinpoint a favorite as they are all very unique and special. Some are made special by the occasions they are consumed, others in their exquisite ingredients and some in their long history and traditions. !
Games
Today ,if a child is asked about his favourite game he will probably say Wi, play station etc. However this was very different in our parents or grand parents days. There were many traditional games that were introduced by the locals or by the immigrants who imported them from their home countries.
20 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia
The popular games in the Hijaz particularly Makkah, Medina, Jeddah and Taif were as follows: Al-Barbar, Alkabtgam, Alburjwa or Borjoun game, Al-Medwan Game, Al kerm, Zogta" or Soquata , Salwa ya Salwa , Taktakkgia, skipping. Nowadays, most of these traditional games in Hijaz are forgotten just like every other traditions. However , some of them are still there such as, "Al Mduan" and "Al Kerm". Most of the old games were based on cooperation, connection and movement unlike the modern games that isolates the child and make him needless to others to enjoy the game he is playing. Our traditional games, with their simplicity, remind us of our past, how people were at that time, and how they lived. Moreover, knowing and maintaining our traditions and culture is what makes our future.
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Much of the information was retrieved by interviews and conversation with the elderly ladies of the Hijahis
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24 The Heritage of the Hejaz: its Culture and Tradition Dr. Chaman Rahim Dar Al Hekma University , Jeddah Saudi Arabia