"Hiduplah seakan engkau akan mati besok. Belajarlah seakan engkau akan hidup selamanya" : THE CULTURE OF SAUDI ARABIA

A. ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia, the third-largest country in Asia, constitutes about four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula. The other countries that share the peninsula—Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait—are all much smaller in area. A narrow plain runs along the Red Sea coast. The Hijaz Mountains (Al Hijaz) rise sharply from the sea. At least one-third of the total area is sandy desert. There are no lakes, and except for artesian wells (wells where water flows to the surface naturally) in the eastern oases, there are no rivers or streams where water flows.

Saudi Arabia is country which located in Jazirah Arab. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. It occupies an area about the size of the United States east of the Mississippi river. Saudi Arabia has an area of approximately 2,250,000 km2 (870,000 sq mi), and it has an estimated population of 27 million (2010 census), and its capital city is Riyadh. Saudi Arabia geography is diverse, with forests, grasslands, mountain ranges and deserts. The climate varies from region to region. Temperatures can reach over 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the desert in the summer, while in the winter temperatures in the north and central parts of the country can drop below freezing. Saudi Arabia gets very little rain, only about four inches a year on average.

On September 23, 1932, Abdul Aziz bin Abdurrahman Al-Sa'ud proclaimed the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or Saudi Arabia (Al-Mamlakah al-'Arabiyah Al-Su'udiyah) by uniting the region Riyadh, Najd (Nejed), Ha-a , Asir and Hijaz. Abdul Aziz became the first king in the kingdom. Thus it can be be understood, the name of derived from the word name of the Saudi royal family of Abdul Aziz Al-Sa'ud.

Saudi Arabia famous as the State of the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW and the growth and development the religion of Islam, so that there are two sentences creed flag which means "There is no god (worthy) to be worshiped but rather Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"

B. CULTURE OF SAUDI ARBIA

ARABIAN CLOTHES

Every country has their own clothes, this clothing is the traits and characteristics of the country. We know the Batik as an Indonesian traditional clothes, Sari is Indian owned, Kimono as Japanese owned and Arab headscarf. Arab countries are majority islamic religion also has a wide variety of traditional clothing.

Tradisional clothing of Saudi Arabia

MAN COSTUME

Ø Thawb

Saudi men wear a full-length, loose garment with long sleeved called thawb. The normal color is white. It is made from cotton or a a polyester mix. However, this color is commonly changed into darker colors such as brown, navy blue, black during the winter. Winter's thawb are made from wool. The collar of the thawb comes in different styles. Some come in a rounded shape and others come in a triangular shape. Some of the thawb sleeves have a loose cuffs while others have tight ones. The tight cuffs are open and closed by placing a Kabak ( cuff buttons). Kabak comes in a variety of shapes and can be made of many different materials. Some are made by silver and decorated with diamonds or precious stones. Usually the style of the sleeve's cuff matches with the style of the collar.

Ø Sirwal

Underneath the thawb, men wear a long or short capacious white pant with sash to draw in waistline known as sirwal. Short sirwals are mainly worn by most of the Saudi Men. Men of the Western Region usually wear long sirwal

Ø Taqiyah or Kufeya

It is a white cotton at which is worn directly over the hair. Wearing the taqiyah keeps the Ghutrah or Shumagh form slipping off the head. There are different styles of Kufeya, some are perforated and some are knitted. In some countries like Egypt and Sudan, men wear Taqiyah without anything on the top. This kind of Kufeya comes in different colors.

Ø Ghutra

Ghutra is a square shaped cotton fabric. It is folded diagonally to form a triangular shape. When it is worn, Gutrah is also folded from the front. Men wear gutrah on the top of Kufeya. Some men wear ghutra directly over the head without any Taqiya. The typical color of Gutrah is white.

Ø Shumagh

Shumagh is the same as Ghutra. It is folded into a triangular shape and placed on the top of the head. The difference between shumagh and ghutra is that shumagh is embroidered with white and red threads.

Ø Igal

On the top of Ghutra or Shumag, doubled black rope-like cord called igal is worn in order to hold ghutra in place. Igal is generally made of tightly woven black goat-hair and sheep's wool. Igal should not wrap around the forehead as kufeya do.

Ø Imma

It is another style of headdress which is worn by Hijazi townsmen (men from the western region). It is a long or large textile which is folded many times around the head.

Ø Bisht or Mishlah

Mishlah is a traditional cloak worn by men on the top of the thawb. It is usually made from cotton or camel/sheep wool. In special occasions like wedding, the groom wears bisht over the thawb. Mishlah comes in many colors like black, brown, gray, and cream color. Bishts are trimmed with beautiful golden embroidery. It comes with a standard or a free size that can be adjusted. When wearing the Mishlah, the right side of the bisht is tucked under the left arm.

WOMEN COSTUME

Ø Abaya

In general, all women have to wear Abaya on the top of there clothes when they go outside. Abaya looks like a black long dress with long sleaves. Saudi women have to cover their hair because of relegious reasons. The traditional Abaya covers the body fro the top of the head until the ankles. The traditional color of Abaya is known to be black. However, nowdays, Abaya became more fasionable and colorful.Some Abayas are embroidered with silver threads, cristals, lace and many other materials. Some Abaya are made form the jeans material, and some of them are totally made from the lace material and lined with a silk material.Many women cover their faces in front of foreign men and this mainly due to traditions and customs. Women cover their faces with (Burga or Niqab) which is a veil or mask that covers the face except the eyes.

Ø Traditional Dresses

Almost in each region in the Kingdom there is a special custom. In the old days, Women used to wear these traditional dresses, but now, not all women wear this kind of costumes everyday. Today's girls usually wear the western clothes and wear the traditional dresses in some traditional occasions like Ghomra( the night before the wedding night), or in Ramadan occasions when they visit each other and have Iftar (breaking the fast) together.

This is an antique Thawb (gown) which is made from a purple silk embroidered with Qasab (golden threads). This kind of Thawb is found in Najd, which is the central region of the Kingdom. It is worn by a married woman in important social events.

This dress is found in the hills of Abha region which is located in the southern region of the Kingdom. It is made of a fabric printed in floral patterns. When working on the land, the women of Abha used to tie their hems around their waists to keep them clean. They also wear a pantalets which is embroidered near the anklesto protect her against the mountain chill. To protect her form the harsh sun, Abha's woman wear a straw hat on the top of a colorful scarf.

This gown is found in the Sulaym tribe who lives near Al-Madinah. It is an embroidered dress which has a quilted hem to protect against thorny bushes.

The traditional costumes worn by the town's women of the Hijaz (western Region) concentrates a great deal ofattention on the embellishment of the "Sidaireeya" (under blouse) and "Sirwal" (long pants) as these are designed to be worn only with the sheer Thawb, also known as Kurtah. The traditional headgear of Hijaz women is known as "Mihramah and Mudawwarah". It is composed of three pieces : the triangular "Shambar", the rectangular "Mihramah" and the square "Mudawwarah". On special occasions, elaborate diamond-studded brooches are often set at every top of the "Mihramah and Mudawwarah".

Found in Al-Jahdaly tribe (Right) which lives between Laith town , on the coast of the Red Sea, and Makkah. This Thawb is made from a local dyed red muslin and imported brown muslin. the gown is lined with rough fabrics salvaged from flour sacks.

This Thawb (Left) is worn by women of Hodhayl tribe in the city of Taif. It is made form patterned muslin. Each pattern has its name and its accompanying headdress.

Ø Kaftan

A kaftan or caftan is a front-buttoned coat or overdress, usually reaching to the ankles, with long sleeves. It can be made of wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton. It may be worn with a sash.It is a variant of the robe or tunic, versions of which have been worn by countless cultures around the world, for thousands of years. The kaftan is associated with Islamic or Islamicate cultures. Kaftans were often worn as court robes; the splendor and specific decorations of the kaftan indicated the rank of the wearer. Sovereigns often gave ornate kaftans as a mark of favor.

Ø Jilbab

Jilbab is Muslim clotting to cover the entire length of the body except the hands, feet and face worn by Muslim women. The use of this type of clothing associated with Islamic Shari'a guidelines for using clothes that cover genitalia or known as hijab.

ARABIAN FOOD AND DRINK

The country that is rich with oil sharing is the temperate desert and the region consists mostly of desert sand with the biggest desert is the Rub Al Khali. The Arabs mentions the word dessert with Sahara desert. Arabic is not only famous by the desert or language course. Arabic is also famous for the towel mostly made from grain. Arab cuisine is rich in spices, making Arabic cuisine is known and liked by a lot of people. There are other foods that were introduced by migrants who already live decades and who dominate there, such as: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Egypt, has become a populist food. That is, their food has become part of the daily menu Ajnabi (immigrants) from various countries, one of which may be due to its affordability and 'somewhat' hit on the tongue. In fact, the Arabs are starting to like these foods.

ARABIAN FOOD

1. Kabsa

Kabsa is one of popular way of preparing meat. Kabsa is a family of rice dishes that are served mostly in Saudi Arabia where it is commonly regarded as a national dish and the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf. These dishes are mainly made from a mixture of spices, rice (usually long-grain basmati), meat and vegetables. There are many kinds of kabsa and each kind has a uniqueness about it. Pre-mixed kabsa spices are now available under several brand names. These reduce preparation time but may have a flavour distinct from traditional kabsa. The spices used in kabsa are largely responsible for its taste; these are generally black pepper, cloves, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, black lime, bay leaves and nutmeg. The main ingredient that accompanies the spices is the meat, such as chicken, goat, lamb, camel, or sometimes beef, fish, and shrimp.

2. Mandi

Mandi is the traditional dish also known as Haneeth which is usually considered as the main dish served in special events such as weddings and feasts. It is now very popular in the rest of the Arabian Peninsula and in many other Arab countries. Mandi is usually made from basmati rice, meat (lamb or chicken), and a mixture of spices. The meat used is usually a young and small sized lamb to enhance the taste further. The main thing which differentiates mandi is that the meat is cooked in the tandoor (taboon in Hadhrami), which is a special kind of oven. The tandoor is usually a hole dug in the ground and covered inside by clay.

3. Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh is a Levantine Arab salad traditionally made of bulgur, tomatoes, cucumbers, finely chopped parsley, mint, onion and garlic, and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice and salt, although there are various other variations such as using couscous instead of bulgur.

4. Sfiha

Sfihs also known as 'Arab Pizza', is an Arab pizza-like dish originating from the Arabian Peninsula and Levant, and introduced in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina by Levantine immigrants.[citation needed] In contrast to the modern use of lamb or beef, traditional sfiha are open-faced meat pies made with ground mutton. Historically, sfiha were much like dolma—simply ground lamb, lightly spiced, wrapped in brined grape leaves. In Brazil, sfihas are folded into a triangular pastry, although the open-faced version is very common too.

5. Falafel

Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, favor beans, or both. Falafel is a traditional Arab food, usually served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as lafa; "falafel" also frequently refers to a wrapped sandwich that is prepared in this way. The falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a meze. Generally accepted to have first been made in Egypt, falafel has become a dish eaten throughout the Middle East. The Copts of Egypt claim to have first made the dish as a replacement for meat during Lent. The fritters are now found around the world as a replacement for meat and as a form of street food.

6. Shawarma

Shawarma levantine Arab , meat preparation, where lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, or mixed meats are placed on a spit (commonly a vertical spit in restaurants), and may be grilled for as long as a day. Shavings are cut off the block of meat for serving, and the remainder of the block of meat is kept heated on the rotating spit. Although it can be served in shavings on a plate (generally with accompaniments), shawarma also refers to a sandwich or wrap made with shawarma meat. Shawarma is eaten with tabbouleh, fattoush, taboon bread, tomato, and cucumber. Toppings include tahini, hummus, pickled turnips and amba. It is now a fast-food staple worldwide.

7. Samosa

A samosa is a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, ground lamb, ground beef or ground chicken. The size, shape and consistency may vary, but typically, they are distinctly triangular. Samosas are often accompanied by chutney. They are a popular appetizer or snack in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Southwest Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, the Horn of Africa, North Africa, and South Africa.

8. Fattoush

Fattoush is a Levantine bread salad made from toasted or fried pieces of pita bread (khubz 'arabi) combined with mixed greens and other vegetables. Fattoush belongs to the family of dishes known as fattat (plural) or fatta, which use stale flatbread as a base. Fattoush includes different vegetables and herbs according to season and taste. The vegetables are cut into relatively large pieces compared to tabbouleh which requires ingredients to be finely chopped. Sumac is usually used to give fattoush its sour taste.

9. Chicken biryani

The Arabic Food Recipes kitchen (The Home of Delicious Arabic Food Recipes) invites you to try Chicken biryani Recipe. Enjoy cooking tasty Arabic food and learn how to make Chicken biryani. Biryani, biriani, or beriani is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice (usually basmati) and meat, fish, eggs or vegetables. The name is derived from the Persian word beryā(n) which means "fried" or "roasted". Biryani was brought to the Indian Subcontinent by Muslim travelers and merchants. Local variants of this dish are not only popular in South Asia but also in Arabia and within various South Asian communities in Western countries.

10. Murtabak

Martabak or murtabak, also mutabbaq, is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread which is commonly found in Saudi Arabia (especially the Tihamah and the Hejaz regions), Yemen, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei. Depending on the location, the name and ingredients can significantly vary. The name mutabbaq (or sometimes mutabbag) in Arabic means "folded". In Indonesia, the Murtabak is one of the most popular street food menu and is well known as Martabak.

11. Kubz

Khubz, the Arabic word for “bread” is a version of flatbread enjoyed in the Middle. Khubz was traditionally baked in a tannuur, and six recipes for khubz made in this way are included in Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq's 10th century Kitab al-Tabikh cookery book. As with most traditional breads, part of the enjoyment of khubz is the process of making it. The khubz dough is rolled or flattened into a pie shape. The dough is then attached to the side of a special, hot, stone oven and baked to perfection. By slapping the dough to the wall of the stone oven, it will stick and cook until bubbling and brown. The finished khubz is removed with a long wire hook. Even the process of making khubz is very similar to the technique used to make naan bread, baked in a tandoori hot brick oven.

ARABIAN DRINK

1. Qahwa (Arabic Coffee)

Qohwa a name of Arabic coffee. This coffee tastes pretty unique for the first time to drink it. Usually, Qohwa served with korma. So the way of presentation is qohwa drank some then followed by eating korma, so it goes. Composition of Qohwa are as follows:boiled water, arabic coffee powder,Cardamom powder (a type of ginger family plant) and clove. Generally, we can find the arabic coffee during a visit to the native Arabs, or when breaking the fast in Ramadan.

2. Jallab
Jallab is a type of syrup popular in the Middle East made from carob, dates, grape molasses and rose water. Jallab is very popular in Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. It is made mainly of grape molasses and artificial coloring, then smoked with Arabic incense. It is usually sold with crushed ice and floating pine nuts and raisins.

3. Sobia

The other white drink! Sobia, is not milk, not coconut milk, and it is definitely not soy milk or almond milk, it is one of the most traditional drinks to break the fast during Ramadan. Beverage Breaking Citizens Mecca favorites Sobia is a society of Mecca is a popular drink during Ramadan to enter. This traditional beverage blended from raisins, wheat and yeast or dry toast was a favorite thirst when breaking the fast release. All the inhabitants of Mecca put Sobia as one main dish during Ramadan. Beverage sobia has several types, including: Sobia red, made from grain, flour, cardamom, cinnamon and crusty bread. Sobia white similar to the red, the difference only in terms of color with the addition of raspberry.While sobia raisins come from Yemen by adding cinnamon and cardamom.

ARABIAN FESTIVAL

On the surface, Saudi Arabia may not seem to be a very festive place. The country’s only official holidays are the Muslim holy days of Eid ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and the lesser-known holiday of Eid al-Adha, held roughly 70 days after Ramadan. Unification of the Kingdom Day, the anniversary of modern Saudi Arabia’s 1932 founding, is among the few Saudi holidays held on a set day on the Western calendar instead of the Islamic calendar. The two-week Janadriyah National Festival, held each February, is about as lively as Saudi festivals get.

1. Janadriyah National Festival

Janadriyah, 42 km northeast of Riyadh, is the venue for Saudi Arabia's national festival of heritage and culture. A colorful festival, held in the winter season every year, which normally falls during the month of February or March. Janadriyah Festival, as it is called, is a rich cultural presentation of the past and present Saudi Arabia. It highlights the culture and heritage of the country which, for the new generation, is a window to the vibrant past. Long ago, Janadriyah was known as "Rowdhat Souwais" and was mentioned by numerous historians and writers. Though Janadriyah Festival started as a camel race, today, it represents a crossroads where poetry, intellect, culture, art, theatre, as well as heritage and history meet.

The Vision of the Unifier

The vision behind Janadriyah Festival was conceived by the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdul Rahman Al Faisal Al Saud (also known as 'Ibn Saud'). The festival, for the first time, was inaugurated by the late King Fahad Ibn Abdul Aziz in 1985.

Incessant participation!

Year by year, the authorities bring about lots of additional attractions in the festival that invite huge flow of population, both local and foreign, to the festival village. During the two weeks of its festivity, the Kingdom's magnanimity will be exposed with vast knowledge distributed throughout the visitors.

Handicrafts on the making

An artisan from the Al Hasa region of Saudi Arabia. The festival is a confluence of artists and artisans from almost all the provinces of the Kingdom who display their skills as a live show.

Colours and Colours!

Janadriyah Festival hosts sellers from all over the country to display and sell their products, mostly handicrafts.

Camel beauty pageant

Cute camels embellished with ornaments that parade through the crowd is a beautiful sight. These specially bred Arabian camels or dromedaries are used on special occasions.

2. Milad al-Nabi

All Saudi Muslims celebrate the birthday of their Prophet, Mohammad, by elaborately decorating their homes and mosques. Children recite poems about the Prophet, while older Saudis tell stories about Mohammad’s life and accomplishments. Large feasts and street processions are among Milad al-Nabi’s other traditional activities. The date of Milad al-Nabi varies from year to year according to the Islamic calendar.

3. Jeddah Festival

Perhaps no other Saudi festival is as tourist-friendly as the one which takes place in the port city of Jeddah between June and July. The first Jeddah Festival was held in 2000 to attract more tourists to Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city, but the festival has now grown to include over 200 exciting events. Visitors can sample traditional Saudi dishes, purchase local handicrafts, or watch the opening fireworks display over Jeddah’s stunning Corniche.

Book Fair: also held in the city of Jeddah, the fair attracts writers, publishers and agents to the International Exhibition and Convention Centre to listen and take part in discussions on Arabic works.

4.Unification of the Kingdom Day

The country’s only secular public holiday takes place each September 23 on the anniversary of Saudi Arabia’s 1932 founding. Although many Saudis still choose to quietly celebrate this formerly low-key holiday at home, growing numbers of young Saudis have chosen to express their national pride more overtly by singing, dancing, honking car horns, and waving Saudi flags.

5. Eid ul-Fitr

Like their Muslim counterparts in other nations, Saudis mark the final day of the fasting month of Ramadan with this three-day religious festival. Eid ul-Fitr begins with a small morning meal and quiet prayers, and continues with larger feasts and livelier celebrations among family and friends. Saudi children receive money and elaborately decorated gift bags from adults, several shopkeepers add free gifts to all purchases, and Saudi men secretly leave large bags of food on strangers’ doorsteps during this festive time of year.

6. Eid al-Adha

This important Muslim festival lasts four days and marks the moment when Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice Ismael, his son, for Allah. Today, most Saudi families celebrate Eid al-Adha by dressing up in their finest clothing, saying special prayers, and slaughtering lambs to share their meat with everyone.

7. Islamic New Year

Islamic New Year the beginning of the New Year has few rituals or celebrations, unlike other festivals. Otherwise known as Muharram, many Muslims use this occasion to remember the day in which Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina in 622. Many will gather in mosques for special prayers and readings and regard the day as a time for reflection on the Hĳjira and on the year to come.

8. Dates Festival

Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of dates in the world to handle 20% of the world market which comes than 23 million principal dates. Every year the festival will be held in the largest Arab country. Festival that takes place is the date palm which is the biggest festival in the world. The festival takes place in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia for 90 days commencing with the month of September. In that month Buraidah will be busy as well as a palm-world airports. It's because of millions of dates will be traded to Buraidah from around the outlying place of Arab Saudi. Dates are popular choice and most famous to resident of Saudi Arabia, is the date of the type Sukkari.