Omani Culture in a Box

DONE BY ASMA BINT ABI BAKER SCHOOL STUDENTS

OMAN PASSPORT

OMANI FLAGE AND PIN

Sultan Qaboos (The ruler of Oman since 1970 till now )

(OMANI DISDASHA )Traditional Omani Clothes for Boys and Men

Omani Caps (for boys)

Traditional Omani clothes for girls and women(This can be different in other regions of Oman.) There are many different designs and it is called “Khowar” )

More designs for girls’ and women’s clothes in our town (Liwa)

TASAHYoung girls put Tasah on their head usually at special occasions such as Eid or Weddings. This also can be different in other parts of Oman but the one in the picture is used in our town.

BURQUA’In the past, when a girl gets married she starts wearing Burqua. Unfortunately , this tradition started to disappear and nowadays only old women still wear it .

Traditional Omani Necklace

Henna is used in Oman and other Gulf countries for decorating girls’ and women’s hands, arms and foots at special occasions specially weddings. The night before the wedding night is dedicated to decorating the bride with henna, and called "Henna

night ."

Henna cone for henna decoration

Incense burner The traditional one is made of clay and it is called in my town Madkhan while it is called Majmar in other parts of Oman

Incense burner is used to burn incense or Bakhoor. Bakhoor is the Arabic name given to scented woodchips, soaked in fragrant oils and mixed with other natural ingredients. These scented chips are burned in the incense burners to perfume the house and clothing with the fragrance rich thick smoke. This is used specifically on special occasions like weddings or for welcoming guests or generally just to perfume the house. But many people nowadays use electrical incense burners because they are faster and safer to use. Others still like to use the traditional one because it is natural and burns Bakhoor better.

Traditional Mabkharah Omani women use it to put cothes on it and put the incense

burner under it .

Traditional Mabkharah Modern

Mabkharah

Omani FrankincenseWe get it from the south of Oman (where the finest Frankincense in the world comes from)

SomoqIt is also called Arabic Gum and it is used for treatment in the past .

WATER COOLERIt was used in the past before 40 years ago to keep drinking water in .

NeelaThe indigo-blue dye was used in the past to paint the new baby’s head after shaving their hair.

Arabic KihalIt was used in the past and today few people still use it as one of Omani traditions for looking after new babies. It is usually made from natural materials. Mothers use the stick which is called Marwad to put little Kihal in her baby’s eyes

(specially newborns).

Mahaf or Mashab This is used in Oman in the past before 40 years ago. Some used it to put it under their hot cooking pots and others used it to make fire grow for cooking food at that time

Old basket made of palm leaves used in the house

for keeping things in.

Kufah

MahafahTraditional Omani Fan used before 40 years ago when it was hot as there wasn’t any electricity at that time.

KfaarOmani people used it in the past to put their food on for having lunch or dinner or to put fruits on when they have guests. It is called in other parts of Oman Al Ezaf.

Makabhused in the past to cover food specially dates and it is made of palm leaves.

MakashahA handmade broom that is made of date palm leaves used to sweep the floor with.

MzmsahA basket made of palm leaves and was used in the past to collect dates in .

With RegardsAsma School Students (Oman)