UAE - CULTURE, HERITAGE AND TRADITION
HISTORY
UAE is a recently created country with a past history that is shared by the neighbouring empires such as Persia, Rome, Ottoman empire, and foreign powers such as Portugal and England. The earliest inhabitats were the Neolithic people, 5500 B.C. Significant control, and commerce was established by the successive Persian empires. During the Sassanid era, Persians controlled most of the lands around the Persian Gulf. The Romans also exerted influence on the Persian Gulf. Envoys from the Islamic prophet Muhammad saw the islands convert to Islam around 630 C.E. The Portuguese would then battle the then dominant force in the Persian Gulf, the Safavid empire and control UAE for the next 150 years. During the 16th century, the Ottomans took control of the Islands and UAE was known as the "Pirate Coast." By the 19th century the British empire had taken complete control of the land then called "Trucial Sheikhdom."[3] Trucial Coasts were under the contorl of the British empire until the 1960s when the first crude oil was discovered. Consequentially, with weakening British contorl, the "Trucial States" became the United Arab Emirates (UAE) around 1972
Emirati People & Occupations
People of UAE
Emirati culture is based on Arabian culture and has been heavily influenced by Persian culture. Emiratis, including the ruling dynasties of the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, trace their origins to the Bani Yas clan of Arabia. However, people outside of the Bani Yas clan, such as Baluchis and immigrants from Iran's Bastak region and Bahrain, have been gradually integrated into Emirati society. A tiny number of South Asian, African and people from other races have intermarried with Emiratis
The UAE is a predominantly Muslim country. Islam is the basis of the UAE’s culture, political system and way of life, yet it is also multi-cultural and tolerant towards other religions.
Traditional Occupations
Drum making
Perfect Execution
The Ziziphus tree (Ceder in Arabic) is considered a primary material for drum making. Wood is taken from a big tree trunk and the other additions or small branches are cut off. The sides and edges exceeding the required length are also removed.
Manufacturing
A Real Success
Al Hasseer, or woven mats, are made of palm fronds (al seffa). The fronds are soaked in water to make them flexible for the weaving process. Women weave the strips of the fronds, placing the first piece under their feet when they start linking the first strings of "seffa" respectively. The linking work will continue until 20 are done and then cut vertically with the knife. The end of a "seffa" is twisted and the edges of "al hasseer" are sewn with string.
Pearl Divivng
Exceptional Achievement
The diver or "al ghawwass," according to Emirati pronunciation, gets off the ship and stays on the water's surface to put on a nose clip (al fatam) to avoid breathing and swallowing water. He then ties a 4-7 kilogramme weight to his leg to accelerate his descent to the sea bed
Emarati Food
Emirati food reflects its Arab heritage, but has evolved with influences from the Levant, the Indian sub-continent and North Africa following the ancient Spice Road. The cuisine originally reflected locally-grown produce. Rice was introduced later by traders*.
Traditional food consisted particularly of fish, rice, bread, dates, yoghurt, home-grown veggies, and meat from sheep, goats, and camels. Lunch is the primary family meal and is eaten at home at around two o'clock. It normally includes fish, rice, meat, and a vegetable dish. There are a lot of known dishes in UAE, for example: Harees, Machboos and Luqemat.The most popular streetside snack is Shawarma i.e. meat sliced off a spit and rolled in a pocket of pita-type bread.Many Emirati picks the traditional fashion of consuming with the right hand.
There are strict Muslim taboos towards beef and alcohol, and meat has to be slaughtered in line with the Islamic halal approach. Emiratis are recognized for their hospitality; they sense honoured while receiving guests and socializing with buddies and family. Guests are welcomed with espresso and clean dates. Incense is exceeded round so that visitors can capture the perfume in their headwear. With the immigrant population have come eating places providing a huge form of ethnic ingredients, and speedy meals restaurants have additionally emerged as popular.
Emarati Mother's Speak
UAE'S CUISINE AND CULNARY
“Cooking has changed so much, we used to cook all of our meals on wood and charcoal. When the wood burns and we have finished cooking we cover it with a round cover."
Grandfmother (78 years old)
“Cooking traditional food is our link to our heritage and culture and cooking traditional recipes makes me feel nostalgic and long to go back in time.”
Mother, housewife (45 years old)
“We used to eat on a round shaped carpet that was handmade from palm leaves.Saffron, cardamom, turmeric and thyme are the core flavors used"
Grandmother (65 years old)
“I wish time could take me back to the days where family and friends gathered to cook before weddings.”
Mother (58 years old)
Saffron, cardamom, turmeric and thyme are the core flavors used by my mother and family at that time"
Mother (48 years old)
Our breakfast usually features breads like ragag, khameer and chebab, served with cheese, date syrup, or eggs.
Housewife (30 years old)
Traditional Appetizers!!
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Attire
Men in the UAE wear the traditional kandoora which is a white gown that covers the whole body. Depending on the season the kandoora can also be blue, grey, black, and brown. Men also wear the ghutra which is a white cloth that covers the head and the agal which is a black cord wrapped around twice which helps keep the ghutra on the head. The young Emirati nowadays also wear a red and white ghutra which they tie around their head. Women wear an abaya or burkha a black over-garment covering most parts of the body.
HENNA
“Henna plays a big part in culture of the Middle East and in India as well. Henna is a plant which people take and process to use for body art and hair dye. Henna is a very important aspect of our heritage. It is an art that is drawn on the body. Girls and women apply henna mainly at weddings, religious celebrations, parties and Eids.” - Mother (48 years old)
Traditionally, the use of henna dye belongs to the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and African region and is often associated with weddings. In fact, a traditional Islamic wedding has a henna night three days before the big event.
Natural henna leaves are crushed, mixed with water and something acidic like lemon juice. Using a pointed cone, this mixture is applied to the skin, particularly the hands, in intricate designs. The designs are special and often brides will replicate some of the designs from their mothers’ own marriages
There are several henna styles like Al Ghammsa (painting the hand and forearm to the elbow), Al Gessa (lines over the whole fingers till they reach the center of the hand), Rawayab (colours only the first tips of the fingers and then draws a line that extends to the middle of the palm).Henna is also used as a natural hair dye
Music and dance
The United Arab Emirates is a part of the Arab khaleeji tradition. Yowla is a type of music and dance performed mainly in communities of Bantu people from the African Great Lakes region.During celebrations singing and dancing also took place and many of the songs and dances, handed down from generation to generation, have survived to the present time. Young girls would dance by swinging their long black hair and swaying their bodies in time to the strong beat of the music. Men would re-enact battles fought or successful hunting expeditions, often symbolically using sticks, swords, or rifles. Literature and poetryThe main themes in Emirati poetry for Arab Poets range from satire, chivalry, self-praise, patriotism, religion, family and love, and could range from descriptive to narrative.
Gatherings and Majlis
Traditional Arabic houses had a central courtyard (housh)
and veranda (liwan) and an important part of this area was
the majlis. The majlis is a place where people gather, meet,
communicate and share knowledge. It is a part of the Arabian
culture and it is still found in every Emirati household in
the UAE. Often there was one majlis for the women of the
household and another for the men.
“During the old days, people used to care about spending their time with their family, neighbors, and friends, and learned how to welcome them and gather into their small majlis. However, people today care about the interior of the majlis, how unique it is decorated and how spacious it is. I miss the old way of inviting people into our majlis just to spend some time together and enjoy the gathering without having any competition about whose majlis looks bigger and better than the other. A majlis is a cultural space, it is a place for social gatherings, and it is one of the cornerstones of Emirati civilization. For years, friends, neighbors, and families would gather in a majlis at sunset.”
- Grand aunt, housewife (70 years old)
FALCONARY
Falconry is a traditional sport. It was part of desert life and often falcons were trained to hunt to supplement the family meals.
“I remember how my father really adored falcons and waited eagerly for the season to go hunting in the desert to train his falcon to hunt. This passion grew in me as well, like my father. I began training falcons to hunt and would go on trips with friends who shared this passion. In this picture, you can see the amount of pride my father had, while holding his falcon. Owning a falcon is seen as a sign of pride and wealth. As you can imagine the better the breed, the more expensive the falcon would be. As Emiratis, we grew up to really love falcons and see them as prized creatures full of pride and strength. They still hold the same importance in our society and in Arabia as a whole.” - Father, retired diplomat (64 years old)