I know that you and I love to wear jeans, t-shirts and training suits, but in Jordan we have a traditional costume. I don't wear the traditional costumes. I wear jeans and t-shirts just like you, but the Bedouins do wear them and so do the people that live in the countryside in Jordan.
There are traditional dresses for girls and boys. The girls wear a thobe or dishdasha, and each town has their own design. They are very pretty, and hand embroidered. The women also wear beautiful jewelry. Traditionally, the jewelry is made out of silver. They also wear makeup made out of kohl that is used like eyeliner. The Bedouin ladies also have tattoos in their chins! (Here I am wearing the traditional costume!)
Men also wear a dishdasha, but it is not decorated, it is plain white. Over it they wear an aabayah which is like a cloak and is usually black. On their heads they wear a hattah and an igaal.
The hattah is red and white and the igaal is black. It takes the shape of a circle which goes in top of the hattah, holding it in place, and the men of course don't wear any makeup. ( My brother Hamza is wearing the men's traditional costume.)
There are traditional dresses for girls and boys. The girls wear a thobe or dishdasha, and each town has their own design. They are very pretty, and hand embroidered. The women also wear beautiful jewelry. Traditionally, the jewelry is made out of silver. They also wear makeup made out of kohl that is used like eyeliner. The Bedouin ladies also have tattoos in their chins! (Here I am wearing the traditional costume!)
Men also wear a dishdasha, but it is not decorated, it is plain white. Over it they wear an aabayah which is like a cloak and is usually black. On their heads they wear a hattah and an igaal.The hattah is red and white and the igaal is black. It takes the shape of a circle which goes in top of the hattah, holding it in place, and the men of course don't wear any makeup. ( My brother Hamza is wearing the men's traditional costume.)
I don't wear the dishdasha and none of my friends do, but at my school every year we have an Arabic folk night where we all sing Arabic songs, and dance traditional Arabic folk dances. The most famous of which is called "The Dabbkah." We all wear the traditional clothes, the boys wear the white dishdasha with the Hattah and Igaal and the girls dress up in the dishdasha and we all look traditionally beautiful!
Here I am with my cousins in traditional costumes at a wedding.
And here I am with my mother!
Dear Ayat,
I like your article very much and I loved the pictures even more. xx Lulu
Dear Ayat,
We like your traditional costumes, especially the bright colours. They look comfortable and beautiful. We really like your country Jordan. Your school looks fun. We hope you're having fun there.
Sincerely,
WPGA grade two social studies class
I ADORED YOUR BLOG. IT WAS FANTASTIC. I LEARNED ALOT!!! YOU ARE SOOOO CREATIVE AND I THINK YOU ARE SOOOO AMAZING......
I'm moving to Amman in a couple of months and was wondering if I would be able to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts. I have heard that women cannot wear shirts that don't cover their shoulders and have to wear clothes that go past their knees. Is this how my mom will have to dress? Does this rule apply to boys too? I will be 6 and my brother 1 1/2.