THE SAUDI ARABIA CULTURE.

SAUDI ARABIAN CULTURE
NAME
INSTITUTION
THE SAUDI ARABIA CULTURE
Introduction
The culture, tradition, and way of life of the Saudi Arabia people are deeply rooted in the Islamic religion and heritage. Their attitudes and customs are traced back to many centuries and are highly of Arabic civilization. However, the rapid change in civilization and modernization has had an impact on their ways of life; their original nomadic culture is still alive and practiced widely. An important feature of the Arabia culture and tradition is their adaptability to the new modern ways of life. They have fused their lives, culture, and traditions of the moderns’ civilization. Saudi culture differs in areas such as housing pattern, dances, folk songs, and clothing
Language
Saudi Arabians official language is Arabic although use English widely due to intercultural interactions. Arabic is considered the language of the Qur’an, literature, and their poetry. Though the dialect has remained unchanged over the years, the style varies from nation to nation.
Islamic Culture
The way of life of all Saudi Arabians adheres to the Islamic teachings. The State laws of Saudi Arabia require that all citizens are Muslims, and there is no freedom of religion. The religion has significantly shaped their way of life, politically, socially, and legally. The country is the origin of Islamic religion and receives millions of visitors each year. Prophet Muhammad is considered the last prophet God sent. He was a great messenger tasked with bringing revelation to humanity. He brought forth the Quran, which is the foundation of their religious conviction. He is credited with the teachings, and holy life brought forth in observance of religious practices and the faith. The Muslims are obliged to observe prayer five times in a day, in the evening, sunset, afternoon, noon, and at dawn. Friday is their holy day marked by all Muslims, with all companies and shops closed on that particular day. The holy month of Ramadan requires fasting from morning to evening with permission of only working for six hours in a day. During this period, they fast with prayer, nor drinking, no smoking or chewing of gum. The days of Ramadan are marked with celebrations that go late into the night and people take on activities slowly with no hurry nor strain. In terms of religion, the country is genuinely religious with very conservative practices. They consider the Quran as their Constitution. The Quran also offers the people typical way of life in the Arabic language and poetry.
The Bedouin
They are taken to be the original occupants of the current Saudi Arabia. They are a minority but very influential in the Saudi Nation. They form a significant portion of religious heads, National Guards, and the Judiciary, which is preserved by the government.
Government
A King, assisted by a crown prince, serves as the commander in chief and heads Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince helps the King with official duties and is second in line to the command. Council of Ministers forms the cabinet and helps the King in managing the different parts of the government, which includes education, infrastructure, finance, and foreign affairs. The country has thirteen provinces headed by a governor and assisted by a deputy governor.
The Judicial system is Islamic Law (Sharia Law) with the King at the apex of the legal structure. The Sharia Courts are the largest and hears a majority of the cases in the kingdom.
Cultural Institutions
Several cultural centers are established all over the Kingdom to promote their unique blend of cultures. For instance, the cultural department under the ministry of culture and information has several programs that include, folklore shows, arts and crafts events, drama clubs, and theatrical occasions. King Fahd also sponsors several cultural events in Riyadh that offer several research facilities, Islamic literature, and collections. Several museums are established to promote cultural activities such as the National Museum based in Riyadh.
Al-Janadriyah Festivities
These festivals take place in heritage villages located in Riyadh and are a reflection of the Kingdoms custom and culture. It is an annual event planned during the first month of their calendar. The events are meant to revive the cultural heritage by handcraft activities and traditional houses. It is commonly regarded as the best occasion to reflect on the vast and unique heritage, culture, and traditional practices.
The valuable Treasure
Considered as the most precious treasure by the Saudis, the Arabian horse has connections linking it to the Arabian Peninsula. It is characterized by easy adaptation to different climatic conditions, high speed, loyalty, and intelligence. The Saudis highly value the horse
Folk Music and dance
The Saudi music is greatly influenced by Bedouins nomadic lifestyle. Their music differs from region to region. For instance, music from the al-sihba region put together poetry and Arab Andalusia. Folk songs are similar between different areas such as the Makkah and the Madinah. The ardha dance, performed by men is the most common and widespread. The dance is performed by men and is commonly known as the sword dance. It is a combination of dancers’ and singers holding up swords. A narrator accompanies the dance. The poet who leads in the singing is normally at the center while men carrying swords are in a circle.
Poetry
The nomadic lifestyle of the Bedouin, poetry was taken as an oral way of life. Tales of bravery, war, love, and chivalry were told in most gatherings. They formed entertainment events and a way of preserving their traditions, social values, and history. The Quran forms the center of their language policy, with popular aired poetry competitions on the local television programs.
Dressing and Jewelry
The Saudi people go for traditional attire, which also go well with the hot, windy climate. The style helps them keep in form with the Islamic recommendation for modesty. Women are required to cover their entire bodies as well as their hair and face. Men on the other hand do wear western attires on some occasions.
Men
Men put on ankle length cloth best known as ghutra, folded, and held with a cord better known as igaal. The outer clock was frequently used as a blanket too in the olden days while travelling.
Women
Women have the outer cloak best referred to as abaya. They cover their heads by wearing a Shayla wrapped around the neck and held in place with some jewelry. The traditional dresses in most cases have decorations of sequins and coins or at times brightly colored artistic decorations. The veil dates back to many centuries before the introduction of Islam in Saudi Arabia. It was used in the desert to protect against the strong winds and bright sunlight in the desert. Although currently, the veil is considered a sign of virtue and modesty if put on by a woman. In some places in Saudi, it is mandatory for women to put on the veil.
Jewelry
Jewelry is considered as a symbol of status in the society both socially and economically. Within the Bedouins, it served as a means of transporting wealth in addition to security. The jewels were made of silver and at times gold although to a small extent. They were further decorated using coins and tiny bells. In the current Saudi lifestyle, a husband offers their wives jewelry as gifts before and even after marriage. Girls were accorded solid gold as gifts. It has been a traditional practice since time immemorial.
Marriage
Traditional marriage in the Islamic State revolves around tribe and family arrangements. For strengthening the tribe and family, sons, daughters, and cousins are highly inspired to marry although into other tribes is also encouraged. Their marriages have always been very closesuch as marriage between first and second cousins. Men too were encouraged to marry many wives. It is a common practice in the country to get a family of one man and four wives in addition to about ten or so children.
Steps towards Marriage
After identifying a potential mate, the mother to the bride is informed and the two families decide if the marriage is appropriate. The next step is unveiling of the bride before the husband to be. If plans go well, the bride price is decided and sanctioned by imam. The bridegroom later presents the bride price in a family meeting together with gifts of jewels. A date is set, which is usually considered as the formal engagement. Known as the Henna gathering or party, it is centered on decorating the bride in a traditional way by use of paste. Finally, the wedding festivities takes place much later after the proposal, which is attended by family, guests and close associates. The men and women hold celebrations separate from each other because their culture does not allow them to mix during such occasions. The festivities can take several days after which the bride and bridegroom are shown to their new household.
Socialization
Individuals socialize around family homes and with family members most of the time. They have regular visits with women taking on the responsibility of domestic workers. Men socialize a lot with fellow men where they gather in several groups commonly referred to as majmu’ where they take on gossips, jokes, and playing cards. They occasionally meet in designated locations or in each other’s households. Families live close to one another and prefer to do business with one another. The family members help each other a lot particularly in situations such as securing job opportunities and favors.
Greetings
Greetings among Saudi men are very formal and usually take time as they inquire more about each other’s wellbeing. In addition, it is their tradition to welcome strangers and show kindness. Visitors are offered large servings of food, which is a sign of welcome and appreciation.
Food
Saudi food has greatly been swayed by Persian and African food. Alcohol is strictly forbidden while pork is usually considered unclean. Both foreigners and some local Saudis consume alcohol secretly. This includes locally made brews and imports brought in illegally. Drinking of coffee is taken as a ceremonial gesture, and visitors are needed to drink two to three cups to show appreciation. Guests are also expected to eat to their fill.

References
Strijp R. (1965-1987). Cultural Anthropology of the Middle East: A Bibliography. New York, NY; Brill

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