In Saudi Arabia one will be exposed to many differing customs and traditions. This may include the simple way a meal may be shared in the desert with setting out a blanket and everyone sharing from common pots and eating with their hands. Or another guest to the Kingdom may find the most unusual custom to be that of segregation with men and women separated at social gatherings and other functions. Alternatively if one hears about the Saudi women who never uncover their face until the day of their death, they may find that to be the most unusual custom. And yet for other guests to Saudi they may learn about the tradition of Islamic healing and find that to be an unusual custom. One of my personal experiences that remains emblazoned in my mind was the first time I saw the practice of miswak and a Saudi friend kindly explained the custom to me. So now I reach out and ask those of you, Saudi and non-Saudi, what has been the most unusual custom or tradition that you have experienced or aware of pertaining to Saudi Arabia?
Filed under: culture, Dress, friendship, gender, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi Living, travel, Uncategorized, Women Issues Tagged: | culture, culture shock, customs, desert, gender issues, heritage, history, KSA, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel
I love the burning of oud or bukhoor before a the guests leave a gathering.
that is a nice and sensory comfort fpr fire!
I find the tradition of covering the face till death – even before husband and children baffling.
i want a job in travel sector. plz help me.
@Daisy
I’ll second that one.
hahhaah, miswak ! nice discovery
alright… i am the one who Saudi lives in USA for a while. i just do like u looking for something new to be involved with the nice community that i have been living in.. as i a Saudi i would suggest to u to eat Saudi traditional food in Njed which is the area covers center of saudi arabia such as, margug , geresh, goursan, others. actually these dishes are orgnally from this Njed for hunderds of years yet, there is no anther erea can make these foods in the existence
same like in al hegaz which is the area in wes of saudi, like yaghmous, halua ldou others…. everywhere in sudi arabia has old tridistin food ppl offerd them in the tridetin seasons like Eid alfiter and Ramadan the oldy moanth somehting like this…
also, u can listen to tradition song for those reigns like samri whish include lyric, song , instruments and dance
same thing in alhjaz called al khbety and al muzmar play or game..
alright, that i have in my mind but there are a lot to discover like i learn here in USA
if u have anything from saudi Arabia u want to ask about it just let me know its nice time that i can help.
have a fun in KSA and merry Christmas
Mohammed USA
I’d also like to hear of more please!
I feel like I haven’t posted in ages, but I have to pass on this as I can’t think of anything we haven’t already discussed…sorry!
I am with Daisy and Saudi Jawa; As a Saudi myself, I am not quite getting this custom of covering the face till death!!
Miswak – that must be the stick my husband talks about chewing. He wants to find some for me this trip so I can try it.
Carol, I really love all your posts! I’ve learned so much about Saudi Arabia, Arab culture and things Islamic. You really have enriched my ‘learnings’.
I am sending the very best ‘get well’ wishes and prayers that I can from Canada to both you and your husband.
The nose kissing thing. The first time I saw that, I thought it was cute. Touching noses and a quick kiss.
The most unusual customs that I have seen myself (including on t.v.) are:
1. My husband kissing other men in public while pretending that I was an alien and untouchable in public when we were first in KSA.
2. Women in Disney World in Orlando, Florida, IN THE SUMMER covered from head to toe including their faces standing next to their husband who were in their shorts and a t-shirts!
3. Sheep in the front of a pick-up truck in KSA while the women rode in the OPEN back of the truck!!! What’s up with that???
4. Men kissing the nose or shoulder of the King.
5. Drummers in Najran dancing with foreign women….something they’d never do with Saudi women there!!!
6. Women going to the beach covered from head to toe while their husbands went swimming in the Sea with the children along the Cornishe.
7. Saudi men openly flirting with women …. yet the type who refuse to let their wives work with men or mingle with them. Double standard perhaps??? : )
Enjoy all the comments and thoughts. I welcome Muhammad to the blog and enjoy hearing his views from both sides – Saudi and USA. I’d love it if you would share more of your observations and thoughts on how it has been for you living in the USA.
RCG – yes, you reminded me…I’ve also seen the goats in the front of the cab and women in the back …and same for the swimming contrasts too. And last but not least, I also remember my hubby having not seen someone for a long time and they embraced and kissed warmly but yet in a manner you were happy as you could tell they were long friends and so pleased to see each other…and fortunately I got introduced thereafter! (smile)
I like this topic so much.
I will be back, have lots of things to write for u.
I am eagerly looking forward to your observations!!
i would love to share you my experiences about living in USA in the next days. i actually fell in love with this blog lately i really do! . i enjoy reading here about your experiences & thoughts in both about my home Saudi Arabia and USA which is the main goal- i guess- to be made friendship btt this two wonderful countries . i know its about your personal experience but it directs to this way i guess so . anyways, i will always stop by here to enjoy reading as possible as i can.
cheers
About Muhammad USA’s list of dishes – it seems to me that Halua and Ladou are Indian Halwa and Ladu, borrowed and transformed in some way in Saudi Arabia – unless I am mistaking some other dishes for these.
@Muhammad – I’d love to interview you on your perspectives as a Saudi in the US if you would allow me. If so, please email me directly at admin@americanbedu.com
I am so homesick for Saudi. It is every bit of home to me as much as USA.
@Daisy – yes, there are some similarities between Saudi dishes and Indian/Pakistani dishes, particularly in the Hijaz area of Saudi. And of course in Makkah where people come from all over you are able to find such a wide variety of very wonderful dishes and treats.
I think so much of this perspective is from the feminine point of view… were I a husband and told by my wife that she would leave me if I so much as attempted a look at her face… what kind of relationship is this? How cold, how lonely I am sure most men would prefer to see their wives and its interesting that once the women threaten divorce the guys back off… even having her veiled is better than not…. kinda funny and romantic actually… I wish I could tell my husband, “if you insist on lights on when we make love Ill divorce you” hahahaha
Welcome Jenna,
In this part of Nej’d, it is not just the husband but even the children would not see their mother’s face. It just illustrates how much there is for all of us to learn about differing cultures and traditions.
Definitely trying to give me items that I complement people on. To me it comes across as rude that when I say that is a beautiful scarf, they say “you can have it if you like”..but they never say “thank you”.. (in my experience). I understand it’s a custom, but it puts the complementor in an uncomfortable position, but doesn’t acknowledge the complement.
That is also a good point Andrea…I had to learn fast on that aspect of culture as well. I know in my culture (American) it is natural to compliment with the intent of bestowing kind and sincere words and not meant that you want or envy the item.
I’ve been thinking on some of the similarities from my homeland to Saudi. The miswak popped into my head just now as in my homeland, a lot of people still use a tooth stick rather than tooth brush for cleaning their teeth. I’ve not known many who had bad breath or nasty teeth becuase of lack of toothpaste so I think it does work. For a long time here, I used a tooth stick and a tooth brush but it’s harder to get them now.
Another thing I remember from childhood is the fact my grandfather used to always slaughter animals exactly how muslims do but it was never explained to me why.
Since my family are all Christians (bar me,) I did not even realise how many other things that happen in my culture are very similar to what muslims do.
Even in a lot of African cultures, women wear some sort of head gear (scarves) which usually match the rest of the outfit.
One thing I found about African cultures was that many residents of African countries believed that having their picture taken was capturing their soul. Therefore it was so important to be sensitive and not randomly take pictures without full consent and understanding.
This is not an unusual custom, but perhaps an unusual “new tradition in the making!” –
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009121857386
Hi Daisy,
I guess I’ll have to check back since right now I get an error message that the Saudi Gazette web site is having some technical problems. Can’t wait to discover!
thank you for keeping my signature on the illustration and I like what you wore and the comments people are leaving
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wrote*