WEST BANK: Palestinians in the West Bank celebrate Palestinian traditions in a month-long festival

Record ID: 560475

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinians in the West Bank celebrate Palestinian traditions in a month-long festival
  • Date: 29th March 2007
  • Summary: (MER-1) BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (MARCH 23, 2007) (REUTERS) THREE MEN ON HORSEBACK ACTING OUT PART OF 'GROOM' IN PALESTINIAN WEDDING 'GROOMS' SITTING TOGETHER WEARING TRADITIONAL CLOTHES TWO PALESTINIAN WOMEN CARRYING 'HENNA' AND DANCING MEN SINGING AND CLAPPING ACTRESSES PERFORMING ROLE OF 'BRIDES' WALKING/ MEN AND WOMEN WALKING BEHIND THEM AND CLAPPING WOMEN SINGING BRIDAL SONG AND ULULATING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AMIRA, ACTRESS PLAYING ROLE OF 'BRIDE', SAYING: "Of course I am wearing the traditional Palestinian dress and this is something that I am proud of because it illustrates my Palestinian identity. They (Israelis) try to steal Palestinian traditions, they try and convince us that we are not Palestinians and not living in Palestine so the traditional Palestinian dress reasserts our Palestinian identity." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN TOURIST MINISTER, KHOLOUD DAIBES, SAYING: "They are aware of the importance of Palestinian heritage in the make-up of Palestinian national and cultural identity and the importance of our existence on this land." DRUM BEING PLAYED GIRLS ULULATING WIDE OF 'BRIDES' AND 'GROOMS' SITTING TOGETHER CLOSE OF 'BRIDE' AND 'GROOM' VARIOUS OF DABKA TROUPE PERFORMING AUDIENCE CLAPPING BRIDE AND GROOM DANCING AND CLAPPING
  • Embargoed: 13th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA6MTO8IGZ3ML7GIR4QA085MKQ3
  • Story Text: A month-long festival sees Palestinians in the West Bank city of Bethlehem celebrating their cultural heritage. The city was chosen because it is already a focus of Palestinian heritage, and a considerable number of residents there are already actively promoting interest in preserving Palestinian culture and heritage.
    One such citizen is Maha Saca, who is director of the Palestinian Heritage Centre in the city. She has produced a 'Palestinian Traditional Costumes Map' which she displays at the centre, and sells for 4$ (USD).
    First created in 2003 by Saca, the map has on it the names of cities, historical places and pictures of Palestinian women wearing traditional dress.
    Each Palestinian village has it's own traditional dress, particular embroidery pattern and landmarks- all of which can be seen in their correct location on the 'Palestinian Traditional Costumes Map'.
    "This map includes the important religious and historical places in Palestine and it's traditional fashion, so I've connected people with landmarks," said Maha Saca, Director of a Palestinian Heritage Centre in Bethlehem.
    "I connected the Palestinian cities and villages with their cultural dress," she added.
    For many years the style of each traditional dress in Palestinian villages and cities, from bridal attire to ceremonial dresses, not only bespoke an ethnic and regional identity, but also illustrated the identity of the village and the maker as well.
    According to Aisha Odeh, a Palestinian poet, the hand embroidered Palestinian dresses prove that Palestinian heritage is one that stretches far back in history, and actually provide one form of documentation of Palestinian life.
    "We are present, and this heritage is not from today or tomorrow and cannot be forged, and it has accumulated throughout the years from the time of the Canaanites until now. Palestinian women accumulate their life experience on their (embroidered) dresses and these dresses are like documents of the life of the Palestinian people," said Odeh.
    Also marking this month-long celebration of Palestinian heritage are the students of Bethlehem University.
    Many of the students came together for a re-enactment of a traditional Palestinian wedding. The three young women dressed up as brides and accompanying them, three young men dressed as grooms.
    The "wedding" began when the grooms entered the university grounds on horseback, as passerbys and attendees watched and took photographs of them.
    Following the young 'grooms' were the young 'brides' on foot, clothed in traditional Palestinian wedding gowns.
    For many at the event, such garments are not only a great symbol of Palestinian identity-- and one that they are extremely proud of-- but also an act of political defiance.
    "Of course I am wearing the traditional Palestinian dress and this is something that I am proud of because it illustrates my Palestinian identity. They (Israelis) try to steal Palestinian traditions, they try and convince us that we are not Palestinians and not living in Palestine so the traditional Palestinian dress reasserts our Palestinian identity," said Amira, one of the 'brides'.
    The 'brides' took part in a traditional 'henna' party where they decorate their hands and feet with temporary henna tattoos.
    All involved made the most of a day of traditional wedding celebrations, enjoying music and the cultural Dabka dance.
    Traditional Palestinian dress was worn by most Palestinians until the early part of the Twentieth Century, and many Palestinian peasants, many of who became refugees when Israel was created in 1948, continued to wear traditional clothes well into the second half of the Twentieth Century.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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