I figured it was time to just inject some good old fashioned humor. The head dress that a Saudi man wears upon his head is called a smaugh. It can be either red and white checked or pure white or even a crème-colored off-white. (some may wear the black and white smaugh showing support of Palestine).
Most Saudi men will make sure that their smaugh is not only pressed but starched well too. For some, it is very important that the smaugh come to a small point at the center of the head. To best ensure the right fall, it is common to use “Merito” spray starch, a popular brand in Saudi.
I remember when first coming to Saudi I wanted to iron and starch my husband’s smaugh. This was before I started working fulltime. He appreciated my offer, but this was one aspect of “maintenance” that he preferred to take to a local cleaners to ensure the “perfect look.”
Although maybe a little over-exaggerated, this Saudi video further portrays the desire to have a starched smaugh:
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Carol,
This is hilarious! Thanks for the laugh. In seriousness though, an informative post.
Oh NOW I get it! I had seen that video but did n’t understand the significance of Starch On and Merita
Through the years, I’ve watched my husband adjust his smaugh first thing in the morning. And, like you say…. it has to be perfectly ironed or else!
Just an FYI,
I never here the word “bisht” in Jeddah- just “mishlah”- but there are a lot of differences in the dialect.
I’ve also been under the impression that a Keffiya is a ghutra with the checks on it- but isn’t white. I have absolutely no idea why I think that- but if anyone can enlighten me as to if that is true or a local Jeddah thing, or something I made up I’d love to know.
We tried soooo many ironing places when we moved accross town to make sure they could iron the darn things to satisfaction. Unfortunately before Eid, if you wait to long, you can’t get a decent job done- so I end up doing it. I can do it, but it is labor intensive. Last year I bought new ghutras for my hubby rather than waiting for him to, for Eid and sent them in before Ramadan so they were all perfect and ready to go! Much easier for me.
ROTFL!!!
very well starched…
coming soon….
but not in a cinema near you
They should air this show worldwide, check out this one from the same guys:
It is of the utmost importance that the shumagh/ghotra be absolutely symmetrical when meeting at the point in the middle (called a “mizab”, i think)! At one of the photoshoots I held with the dean of my college he spent a good 10 minutes adjusting his ghotra, which didn’t end up symmetrical and i had to photoshop it. Photographers photoshop skin, hair, lips of models and I photoshop a ghotra to be symmetrical.
Sandy:
I live in Jeddah and I only learned the word “bisht” when i was 18 yrs old. No-one uses it here, it’s a Riyadh and gulf word.
Keffiyeh = Shumagh = with coloured checkers
Ghotra = all white
Most Jeddawis wear a ghotra.
love.. love love LOVE watching the men here at the hospital adjust their headwear. They’re so meticulous.. One fellow was so exacting that while I waited endlessly to check in to one of the clinics he spent the entire 15 minutes with his back to the waiting patients looking at himself in the mirror and making himself look pretty.. meanwhile we all waited to check in while he preened. But it was really just amusing.
The funniest part was about the COBRA style. That’s the cool shabab style and he starched his cobra to the extreme!
As soon as I saw this video it brought back so many memories of my husband and many family members and male friends and ensuring they had the exact look and starched peak on their smaugh! As much as women adjust their hijabs, watch discreetly for men do the same with their smaughs!
Carol, in the west people complain about women applying makeup and driving.Here it’s the men adjusting their head gear….lol
I’m glad the video is giving you fond memories.
That is true… I think the funniest scene I’ve seen in regards to a man on the road (the Beltway in VA actually) was using his electric cordless shaver to shave!
I’m really glad you liked our video !!
and thanks so much for sharing it with your friends
sweet
It is great!
It’s brilliant!