Culture of Oman

The Omani culture is steeped in the religion of Islam. Oman has developed its own type of Islam, known as Ibadhism, however other strands of Islam such as Sunni and Shia are also practiced. With this in mind, the Islam month of fasting, Ramadan and other Islamic festivities are very important events in Omani culture.

National Dress

Omanis in Nizwa

For men the national dress is an ankle-length, collarless gown with long sleeves called a Dishdasha. Usually the clothing is white, although a few other colors such as brown, lilac and black are sometimes worn. There are many accessories men can wear, for example the Muzzar (a type of turban), the Assa (a cane or stick used mainly for formal occasions) and the Khanjar. The Khanjar is a ceremonial curved dagger worn during formal occasions, often described as "an important symbol of male elegance".^[1]

The national dress for Omani women comprises a dress worn over trousers (Sirwal) and a headdress (Lihaf). Usually the materials used are of very colorful, vibrant colours. Traditionally Omani women would wear a kind of wooden platform shoe, but nowadays most prefer to wear sandals. The cut of the clothing differs throughout regions, as does color, embroidery and materials. Women complete their outfit with gold jewelry and cosmetics, opting for either brand name or traditionally made items.^[2]

It is said that most of the GCC countries national dress are originated from Oman.^{[citation needed]}

The Dhow

Being a seafaring nation, an important symbol for Oman is the Dhow. These sailing ships have been used for centuries along the Arabian Peninsula, India and East Africa for the purpose of trade. In fact, the earliest reported use of an Omani Dhow was in the 8th Century, arriving in China. In modern day use, the Dhow operate for the purpose of trade, tourism and fishing, and they can be seen all along Oman's coastline. The main ports of Sohar, Sur, Salalah and Muscat all maintain a large fleet, while Sur maintains an extensive Dhow building industry.

Omani cuisine

Omani cuisine is generally very simple, with the aid of many spices and marinades to complete a dish, which usually consists of chicken, fish, and mutton. Unlike many other Asian nations, Omani cuisine is not spicy, and varies between regions. Everyday meals generally have components such as rice, a wide variety of soups, salad, curry and fresh vegetables. For desert, many Omani people have kind of sweet, Omani Halwa. This is usually served before the consumption of Kahwa. Kahwa is an Omani coffee which is very popular and remains a symbol of hospitality. Other popular drinks include laban (a kind of salty buttermilk) and yoghurt drinks.

For festive occasions special dishes are prepared, particularly for Islamic tradition. The range of dishes are very diverse, and in the case of Ramadan, certain meals are only prepared during this time.

See also

• Culture of the Arab States of Persian Gulf

References

1. ^ Omani traditional male dress
2. ^ Omani traditional female dress