YEMEN: For centuries, Yemenis have used flowers for superstitious solace and adornment

Record ID: 241761

  • Title: YEMEN: For centuries, Yemenis have used flowers for superstitious solace and adornment
  • Date: 15th August 2008
  • Summary: WIDE OF YEMENI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION CHAIRWOMAN ARWA OTHMAN TALKING WITH COLLEAGUES VARIOUS OF YEMENI YOUNG WOMAEN WEARING FLOWERS MORE OF OTHMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARWA OTHMAN, CHAIR OF THE YEMENI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, SAYING: "On a daily basis, women start their mornings with flowers -- a sign of goodness, fertility and life, a symbol of all that is beautiful, a symbol
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords: Yemdunc
  • Location: Yemen
  • Country: Yemen
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA80T69VMO6Y8MX89HZ6R6E4VAA
  • Story Text: Flowers have long been central to Yemeni culture, used for adornment and warding off evil spirits.
    For centuries women have decorated their hair, neck and ears with flowers -- symbols of life, fertility and goodness.
    "Women use flowers for daily adornment and also to ward off sorcery, demons, the evil eye and bad spirits," said Hind al-Nasiri, a young Yemeni woman with flowers in her hair.
    A precursor to modern day fashion accessories, flowers have been popular with women for thousands of years, eventually giving way to ornaments like jewellery, eye-liner and lipstick.
    "If I wear it, it's because I find it nice. In former times, before jewels, flowers were the first decorations, then came the Kohl (eyeliner) and the whatever. It is a part of the beauty of the face,"
    said one French tourist.
    Weddings and public holidays also feature lavish floral displays, highlighting the human connection with nature in a land thought by many to be the origin of the biblical "Garden of Eden".
    "Flowers have been linked to weddings over different historical periods because they represent the human connection with nature. Flowers are also symbolic, which is why they are of such great importance. It all comes back to their connection to weddings however," Dr Abda Ali Othman, a professor of sociology told Reuters.
    The colourful and versatile products of nature are equally used to inspire good. They are, according to Yemenis, symbols for fortune, well-being, and happiness. But as Arwa Othman, head of a Yemeni cultural association points out, wearing flowers for Yemenis has become somewhat bittersweet.
    "On a daily basis, women start their mornings with flowers -- a sign of goodness, fertility and life, a symbol of all that is beautiful, a symbol of the joy that we lack," said Arwa Othman, the chair of the Yemeni Cultural Association.
    Despite meagre rainfall, Yemen hosts 2500 of the 3418 plant species in the flora of the Arabian Peninsula.
    Its diversified plant resources are atrributed to the country's varied topographic features and variable climate conditions.
    However, much of its floral patrimony is increasingly at risk due to high population density, water shortages, improvements in agriculture, construction and urbanisation.
    Once a major centre of the ancient Incense Route extending from Egypt to India, Yemen is now one of the poorest countries on Earth.
    The seat of one of the world's oldest civilisation is also grappling with a violent campaign by al-Qaeda militants, dwindling oil and water resources, unemployment, corruption and a growing community of Somali refugees.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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