Occasions

Society in Kuwait is known for the strong ties between its members. Families, neighbors and friends maintain close relationships, and everyone is ready to share and celebrate special occasions with others. Each family celebrates according to its ability. Among these occasions are:

"Al-Mawled Al-Nabawy" marks one of the important religious holidays, which is the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. During the day, spiritual atmosphere spreads and people sing chants of praise and read the Holly Qur'an. Clothes and money are given to the poor. The Lesser Bairam, which comes after Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, and the Greater Bairam, which comes on the tenth day of Dhul-Hejja, are important religious holidays. Some religious holidays, like Al-Mawled Al-Nabawy, Al-Israa Wa Al-Mearaj (the Night of Muhammad's Ascension) and the New Hejri Year are one celebrated for one day, whereas, celebrations of the Lesser Bairam is for three days and of the Greater Bairam is for four days.

Among the religious occasions celebrated in Kuwait is a celebration called “Al-Qarqiaan”. It is on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth nights of Ramadan. As in the past, children wander through the neighborhood while singing and praying to Allah to protect the children of the houses they visit. The mothers present them candy and nuts.

Marriage

Families always treated marriage as an important occasion. Lots of money is usually spent on it. In the past, marriage was a means of strengthening bonds between families of similar social and financial levels and having similar creed. The family used to choose the partner, rather than the bride or the groom. When it was difficult to find a partner from the relatives, a matchmaker handles this matter for the family. When the matchmaker found a suitable girl, she would inform the groom’s family. After the family of the groom agreed, the matchmaker would inform the bride's family. After the consent of both families, a date is arranged for meeting.

During the engagement period, the fiancée was not allowed to leave the house or meet anybody. The father of the groom would give his son's fiancée a sum of money to buy a wedding gift. This gift was called “Daza”. The "Daza" consisted of four valuable garments, two rolls of cloth, towels, bed covers and blankets. A band of women specialized in giving parties would carry the wedding gift to the fiancée's house on Monday or Thursday night. Under lantern light, the band would sing all the way from the fiancé's house to the fiancée's house. If the fiancée's father accepted the gift, this meant that he blessed the marriage. He would prepare the bride's trousseau.

On the wedding night, the groom would walk from his house to his wife’s accompanied by his father, uncles, relatives and neighbors. When he reached the bride’s house, songstresses would receive him.

A party called “Jalwa” was, sometimes, held for the bride in the house of her family. In the "Jalwa", the bride would be wearing a green garment and sitting on a special seat. A green silk scarf would be thrown over her. Some women of the family and musicians would hold the edges of the scarf, raising and lowering it, following the rhythm of a traditional song. Then, the bride would be carried on her seat to the room where the groom waits.

The first week for the newlyweds would be spent at the girl’s house. After this week, the couple would move to the house of the groom’s family in a procession with family and neighbors. The new wife’s mother would not be allowed to go with her daughter as it was considered a bad omen.

The change in the social relations in Kuwait was reflected in the way of choosing life partner. Relationships between men and women became to some extent more flexible. Young men now meet girls at family social occasions, university, work, clubs and other places.

As a result, a Kuwaiti girl can become engaged to a man from outside the family. A Kuwaiti man who is studying abroad may marry a foreigner. Moreover, higher education and job opportunities have led to delaying the regular age of marriage till twenty-three or twenty-four.

After choosing a partner, family approval must be attained. Then, formal traditions, which are a mixture of the old and the new, play a vital role. As in the past, the young man proposes to the girl by asking for her hand in marriage from her father or one of family elders if her father was dead. Afterwards, they would discuss financial matters such as the dowry. When all matters are settled, an engagement party is held in the girl’s house to celebrate the occasion.

The engagement period is not fixed; however, it usually lasts for one month. Wedding party is, usually, given in large public halls or in hotels. A party is given for just men to congratulate the groom and another separate party is given for women to sing and celebrate.

Traditional Costumes

The difference between the past and the present becomes apparent in costumes and garments the Kuwaitis wear today. Arab garments changed to suit the current cultural and environmental conditions. Nowadays, men and women alike wear western design clothes. These clothes are no longer restricted to the foreigners working in Kuwait.

However, Kuwaitis are aware of the importance of preserving their national customs as a symbol of national identity. Hence, men prefer to wear Kuwait traditional clothes which are more comfortable than western clothes. It is, also, noticed that Kuwaiti women chose to wear Western clothes more where they enjoy a large different collection of women costumes. However, Kuwaiti women maintained their traditional costumes by wearing long dresses, veils and cloaks.

This variation reflects the personal taste and the styles of the day, along with traditions. Usually, Kuwaiti woman wears western clothes when she goes to work. When she returns home, visits her neighbors and relatives, she wears traditional clothes. Some women wear the traditional dress when they grow old.

Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Men

Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Women

Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Children

Funeral and Condolence Traditions

Funeral and condolence traditions in Kuwait are simple. Death is predestined; hence, showing excessive grief is considered a kind of objection to Allah's will. Also, funeral orations and memorials are considered unnecessary.

After death, relatives of the deceased wash his body in the house of the dead person while wearing gloves. They use jujube as a cleanser. Then, the body is dried and perfumed with rose oil, aloe, wood and camphor. After finishing, the body is covered with a white cotton cloth and wrapped with a cotton cover.

According to Islamic Sharia, the burial is performed before sunset of the day of death. First, the body is carried to the mosque where people observe the funeral prayer. Passers-by join the funeral on its way to the mosque. After the funeral prayer, the body is carried to the cemetery where it is buried in a side cavity. The face of the deceased should be directed to the Qebla, i.e. towards Mecca. That is the direction of Muslims in prayer. The grave is, then, filled with earth till it reaches a few centimeters above the level of the ground. Two clay unmarked gravestones are placed on the grave. These gravestones signify that there is a grave at that place that should not be trodden upon.

During the three days following the burial, the family of the deceased receives those paying their condolences at home. According to Islamic rules, a woman who loses her husband must wait for four months and ten days to make sure whether she is pregnant or not. This period is called "Idda". During "Idda", the widow is not allowed to look, meet or talk to any male except "mahrams". Mahrams are near relatives whom she can not marry. The widow is also not allowed to wear make up. After this period, the widow bathes in the sea and becomes free to marry once more. These simple and quick traditions of the past continued to the present. The only difference is that washing the body of the deceased and the funeral prayer are performed at the cemetery. Other traditions including receiving condolences for three days after the burial and Idda for the widow are maintained.

Al-Diwaniya

Kuwaiti houses usually consists of one hall. However, wealthy families establish a separate hall or specify one room in one side of the house and call it the “Al-Diwaniya”. This room or hall is secluded from other parts of the house. It is an area to receive guests, neighbors and friends to discuss current events, exchange views in spare time. The main doors of the diwaniya are kept open all day long. Along the door sides, more seats are set for passers-by. Some of the diwaniyas might have sea view where guests would like to enjoy the sea breeze in the summer. Sometimes the diwaniya includes a guest room for those who need to stay for one or more nights in the country. Today, some of the diwaniyas located along Al-Khaleej Street still receive guests.

The diwaniya include a main sitting place, called "Diwan". Doors of the diwan overlook the internal hall that is comfortably furnished for guests. There are many cushions arranged in a specific way to be used as seats and armrests. The floor is covered with woven Persian carpets. The diwaniya, also, contains utensils for preparing coffee, which is redolent with cardamom. Using a special brazier, this coffee is prepared either on the far side of the diwan or in a small annexed room. Coffee preparing utensils consist of graduated sizes of brass coffeepots with lids and long beaked spouts called "Dallal". Coffee is served in small cups made of pottery. Either the owner of the diwaniya prepares the coffee himself for guests or he hires a servant to do this job for him.

Diwaniya in Kuwait has preserved its importance in the social, political and economic life. Today, diwaniya is considered of the important social institutes that play influential role in the democratic and parliamentary life. It became a referential indicator and place where many decisions were made. The number of the diwaniyas increased to the extent that one diwaniya or more can be found in every street. Some of them receive guests daily, others receive guests for only one or two days per week, and others receive guests only on special occasions.

The general atmosphere of diwaniyas became similar to that of social clubs, cultural and literary forums and political salons. Some of these modern diwaniyas are equipped with television sets, radios, satellite dishes, computers and phones. Other diwaniyas set themselves goals to achieve, like sports, economic, political. They plan schedules and set dates to reach their goals. Others declare topics for discussion days before receiving guests. The funniest innovation in diwaniya is the women’s diwaniyas. These diwaniyas receive male guests who share their interests and activities.

Folk Songs, Music and Dances

For ages, folk songs, music and dances have represented important aspects in Kuwaiti society. The main musical instruments for most of the songs were drums and clapping. However, it is noticed that after oil was discovered, no more folk songs or music was created.

In the past, specialized women musicians used to perform songs and dances in private parties for women only. Some men might participate only by playing music. Women, at that time, were not allowed to sing or dance in public celebrations. Though folk songs and music still exist and are found in modern Kuwait, other genres spread. New image is created for old folk melodies as new lyrics are being written for the old traditional folk melodies.

The following are a selection of most important fold songs and dances:

Games and Enjoyments

In the past, Kuwaiti children used simple items from objects thrown in the streets and on the seashore to make their games. They spent plenty of time for recreation as their study hours were not long. From the long periods of time they spent watching their parents working, the children gained experience that enabled them to excel in creating their games. They created games such as:

As the field of daily interests increased, different games and means of enjoyment were introduced. The way of dividing the day into work and study hours followed by weekends and vacations, helped in making a break between work and spare time.

In the past, children’s activities were limited to playing with the neighbors or going to schools teaching the Holy Qur’an. Nowadays, children enter regular schools at an early age according to their level. School starts with the primary stage till it reaches the university, institutes and vocational faculties in which study is during the day only. Hence, children, now, have enough spar time to perform different activities.

Before discovering oil in Kuwait, children made their toys from simple materials of discharged objects. They would find them in the house and streets. Today, however, many means of amusements are found inside the homes, such as televisions, electronic games, computers and ready-made toys. Children do not have enough time create their toys and make games.

Moreover, interest in the outdoor activities increased. Many families and friends meet in cafes and restaurants of famous hotels. Those places are now considered cultural and social centers, as they organize fairs for paintings, jewelry and food.

The cultural programs in Kuwait include shows held in museums, theatrical productions, folklore shows and movies in theaters. All these compete with television and recorded programs to attract the people.

Concerning sports in Kuwait, some traditional activities are still practiced, such as hunting using hawks. Modern games are, also, found in Kuwait, such as soccer, water skiing, and ice-skating in the skating rinks. In summer time, these places offer a refreshing place for the guests.

Through Kuwaiti Touristic Enterprises Company, the Kuwaiti government played an important role in developing the means and places for entertainment. This company manages a complex of residential towers, a number of marine clubs located along the seashore and Failaka Park.

From all these means of entertainment, Kuwaiti citizens choose to spend their weekend on seaside in beach cabins. Sometimes, they choose to spend other vacations in the traditional but modern way. Some Kuwaitis spend spring vacation going on picnics to the desert. Most Kuwaitis spend their vacations abroad.