A real eastern fairy tale promises you a trip to the Sultanate of Oman . This state is on the Arabian Peninsula, in a wonderful place where the desert connects with the Indian Ocean. In the light of changes in the past 50 years, the culture of Oman has also undergone changes, but it remains an incredibly interesting subject for research.
A real eastern fairy tale promises you a trip to the Sultanate of Oman . This state is on the Arabian Peninsula, in a wonderful place where the desert connects with the Indian Ocean. In the light of changes in the past 50 years, the culture of Oman has also undergone changes, but it remains an incredibly interesting subject for research.
Features of the culture of Oman
Oman is a Muslim country, which until 1970 remained closed to tourists. But since the discovery of "black gold" in its depths, the current state of things has changed somewhat. Where there is oil production, there is always a demand for specialists in this field, as well as laborers and servants. So it turned out that the local population, with its traditions and foundations, began to be diluted by crowds of refugees from Pakistan and Iran, as well as by highly qualified specialists who gladly respond to the offer of work in Oman.
Such popularization of this country led to the fact that the state language (Arabic) was significantly diluted by others, transforming into its own unique dialect. A fairly decent part of the local residents is talking on the balos - the language of the eastern Iranians and Western Pakistanis. In addition, you can often hear the South Afghan and South Arabian dialects of the Arabic language. But the most interesting fact is the presence of speakers of Semitic languages among the local population, such as Swahili. This is due to the close relationship between Oman and Zanzibar.
Today, the culture of Oman is aimed at preserving traditional folklore, in particular music and dance. Traditional folk instruments sound with a note of African motifs - slightly plaintively, in Beduin style. The majority of the elderly population is illiterate due to the absence of secular schools until 1970, so village folklore and traditions were transmitted verbally.
Culture of Omani families
In Muslim countries, the institution of family and marriage always carries a lot of prescriptions. In this respect, Oman did not become an exception. Before the popular traditions were influenced from outside, the attitude towards women was slightly better than for cattle. This is not surprising, given the fact that Muslim families are run by men.
Omani girls were given in marriage at the age of 10-12 years. The opinion regarding potential spouses was allowed only for parents. Actually, they also engaged in choosing a chosen one or a chosen one for their child. Quite often, orthocausal marriages were performed when the cousins became cousins and sister. In addition, in relation to the girls, even circumcision was practiced, so that they could not later enjoy the pleasure of sex.
Today, fortunately, things have changed radically. The Sultan of Oman abolished such norms of attitudes toward women, giving them a series of liberties in a voluntary-forced manner. For example, ladies are categorically forbidden to close a person in state institutions. In everyday clothes, not only black robes are allowed, but also colorful bright dresses, and on holidays women wear traditional multi-colored tunics to the middle of the thigh and wide trousers made of expensive flowing fabrics. In general, the current trend in Oman in relation to the weaker sex is aimed at suppressing discrimination and gaining the opportunity to contribute to the country's national development.
Omani men wear loose shirts of bright blue or white, and on the waist flaunts the traditional curved knife - Hanjar. If you are a representative of the feudal elite, his shoulders are always adorned with a cloak of black or red, called aba.
Traditional Holidays and Festivals in the Culture of Oman
Like any other nation, and the calendar of Omanis has special days in which the habitual way of life is irrelevant. Among them:
- November 18, National Day;
- November 19, the birthday of Sultan Qaboos bin Said;
- January 1, New Year;
- in February the Muscat Festival is held, where tourists can get acquainted with the folklore and ethnographic features of Omanis, participate in the fair;
- winter period - the time of the bullfight;
- At the end of summer, the Nairoz festival takes place on the coast.
In addition, Omani strictly respects traditional Muslim holidays and events.