Culture of Oman
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Theculture ofOmandescribe the cultural aspects of people living inOman,which is steeped in the religion ofIslam.Oman has its own unique subsect of Islam, known asIbadhism,however other strands of Islam such asSunniandShi'aare also practised. The Islamic month of fasting,Ramadan,and other Islamic festivities are very important events in the Omani culture.
Dress
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For men, the national dress is an ankle-length, collarless gown with long sleeves, called adishdasha.Most of the time, the clothing is white, although a few other colors such as brown, lilac, and black are sometimes worn. Men wear aKummah,which is an embroidered hat.[1]There are other accessories men can wear, for example, themuzzar(a type ofturban), theassa(a cane or stick used mainly for formal occasions), and thekhanjar.[2]The khanjar is a ceremonial curveddaggerworn during formal occasions, often described as "an important symbol of male elegance".
The national dress for Omani women includes a dress worn overtrousers(sirwal) and a headdress (lihaf). Usually, the materials used are of very colorful, vibrant colors. Traditionally, Omani women would wear a kind of wooden platform shoe, but nowadays, most prefer to wearsandals.The cut of the clothing differs in various regions, as do color, embroidery, and materials. Women complete their outfit with goldjewelryandcosmetics,opting for either brand-name or traditionally-made items. When in public, most women in cities wear theabaya,a modest black dress or cloak worn over the clothes, and thehijab,the typical Muslim hair covering.[3]
Dhow
[edit]With a culture mainlyoriented to the sea,an important symbol in Oman is thedhow.These sailing ships have been used for centuries along theArabian Peninsula,India,andEast Africafor the purpose of trade. In fact, the earliest reported use of an Omani dhow was in the 8th century, arriving inChina.In modern-day use, the dhows operate for the purpose of trade, tourism, and fishing, and they can be seen all along Oman's coastline.
Cuisine
[edit]The cuisine of Oman usesspicesandmarinadesto complete a dish, which usually consists ofchicken,fish,andlamb.[4]Unlike that of many other Asian nations, Omani cuisine is not spicy, and varies regionally. Everyday meals generally have components such asrice,a wide variety ofsoups,salad,curry,and freshvegetables.For dessert, a known Omani sweetOmanihalwais usually served. This is usually served before the consumption ofkahwa,a preparation ofcoffeewithcardamom,which is very popular and remains a symbol of hospitality.[5]Other popular beverages includetea,laban(a kind of saltybuttermilk), yoghurt drinks, andsoft drinkslike mountain dew.
For festive occasions, special dishes are prepared, particularly for Islamic tradition. The range of dishes is very diverse, and there are certain meals only prepared duringRamadan.
See also
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- Islam in Oman
- List of museums in Oman
- Music of Oman
- Cinema of Oman
- Women in Oman
- Culture of Eastern Arabia
References
[edit]- ^Smith, Sylvia (May 1, 2023)."Kummahs of Oman: Stitches of Tradition".AramcoWorld.RetrievedSeptember 20,2023.
- ^"Culture of Oman - Religion, Food, Tips & More | Holidify".holidify.Retrieved2021-12-30.
- ^"Oman - Cultural life | Britannica".britannica.Retrieved2021-12-30.
- ^"The Culture Of Oman".WorldAtlas.2018-11-29.Retrieved2021-12-30.
- ^Medhat, Gehad (2017-10-21)."10 Traditional Omani Dishes You Need To Try".Culture Trip.Retrieved2021-12-30.
- Roche, T. & Roche, E. (2012). "Interwoven: Women's dress practices and identity on the Arabian Peninsula". In:International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences,6(10), pp. 133–144.
- Roche, T., Roche, E. & Al-Saidi, A. (2014). "The dialogic fashioning of women's dress in the Sultanate of Oman". In:Journal of Arabian studies: Arabia, the Gulf, and the Red Sea.4.1(June) pp. 38–51.https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21534764.2014.918373
Further reading
[edit]- Al-Bualy, Asyah. "An Omani Tale".In:39th Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2005.Smithsonian Institution, 2005. pp. 74-75.ISSN1056-6805.
- Almanari, Badar Mohammed (2015). "Visual Narratives: Celebrating Intangible Omani Heritage in Ceramics at Educational Institutions".The International Journal of Arts Education 4.10(3): 25–33.doi:10.18848/2326-9944/CGP/v10i03/36194.
- Risse, Marielle (2019)."An Ethnographic Discussion of Fairy Tales and Folktales from Southern Oman".Fabula.60(3–4): 318–335.doi:10.1515/fabula-2019-0020.
