Culture of Saudi Arabia

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<TITLE>Culture Of Saudi Arabia</TITLE>

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<CENTER>Traditional Dress and Jewelry</CENTER>

Saudi Arabia's dress is one of it's strongest ties to the past and reflects the challenging enviroment, faith, and values of its people. The practicality of loose, flowing garments in a hot wind-swept climate is reinforced by the Islamic ideals of propriety in dress and conduct.

The men of Saudi wear a thawb, a simple ankle length shirt of wool or cotton. Traditional headwear includes the ghutra, a large diagonally folded cotton square worn over a kufiyyah (skull cap) and held in place by an igaal, a double-coiled cord circlet. A flowing floor length outer cloak, known as a bisht, is generally made of wool or camel hair in black, beige, brown, or cream tones.

The woman's traditional dress displays regional and tribal motifs and is embellished with coins, sequins, metallic thread or brilliantly colored fabric appliques. The classic headdress is a shayla, a scarf of black gauzy fabric wrapped around the head and secured by a variety of head circlets, hats or jewelry. An abaya, a black outer cloak, is customarily worn over the dress in public.

Jewelry has been an essential element of Arabian dress for thousands of years. Typically made of silver or silver alloy, traditional bracelets, rings, necklaces and head ornaments are characterized by their impressive size, bold designs and hand-crafted appearance. The jewelry is often embellished with semi-precious stones, corals, beads, and coins.

<CENTER>Calligraphy</CENTER>

Arabic calligraphy dates back some 1,400 years to the first century of Islam. Historically, the primary subject matter for calligraphy has been the Holy Qur'an. Characterized as the quintessential Islamic art form, calligraphy is a revered art in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi museums collect and display rare manuscripts and other organizations commission works of calligraphy, provide training in the art form, and hold competitions to foster a new generation of young artists. Today, calligraphy is a dominant theme in metal work, ceramics, glass, textiles, painting and sculpture throughout Saudi Arabia. Inscriptions can be found adorning the interior walls of mosques, as well as public and private office buildings and homes.

<CENTER>Folk Music and Dance</CENTER>

A living part of the country's ancient heritage, Saudi Arabia's music and traditional dance echo the timeless melodies of chanting Bedouin poets and singing swordsmen. Folklore music varies from region to region. The national dance of Saudi Arabia, the men's sword dance known as the ardha, has its roots in the Najd. It is an ancient tradition that combines singers, dancers, and a poet or narrator. Men carrying swords stand shoulder to shoulder and, from their midst, a poet begins to sing verses or a short melodic line while drummers beat out a rhythm. In the Hijaz, the al-sihba folk dance combines poetry and songs of Arab Andalusia in medieval Spain. A traditional dance and song known as the al-mizmar is also performed in Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah. This features the music of the al-mizmar, a woodwind instrument similar to the oboe.

Today, there are more than 50 folklore dance and music groups in the Kingdom. Popular contemporary Saudi singers value the classical music traditions that have influenced their work and are skilled at incorporating ancient rhythms and instruments, such as the tar and the oud, into their modern music.

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<CENTER>Source: Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington,DC</CENTER>

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