PALESTINE

                                                                                                                      PALESTINIAN CULTURE

                Next week I am going to go to Palestine so I have researched about Palestinian culture and I have listed the things that I found:

1.       Palestinian cuisine is divided into three regional groups: the Galilee, the West Bank and the Gaza area. Galilee inhabitants specialize in producing a number of meals based on the combination of bulgur, spices and meat, known as kibbee by Arabs. Kibbee has several variations including it being served raw, fried or baked. Musakhan is a common main dish that originated in the Jenin and Tulkarm area in the northern West Bank. It consists of a roasted chicken over a taboon bread that has been topped with pieces of fried sweet onions, sumac, allspice and pine nuts. Other meals common to the area are maqluba and mansaf, the latter originating from the Bedouin population of Jordan. There are several foods native to Palestine that are well-known in the Arab world, such as, kinafe Nabulsi, Nabulsi cheese (cheese of Nablus), Ackawi cheese (cheese of Acre) and musakhan. Some common mezze dishes are hummus, tabouleh, baba ghanoush, labaneh, and zate 'u zaatar.

2.       Stories invariably have a happy ending, and the storyteller will usually finish off with a rhyme like: "The bird has taken flight, God bless you tonight," or "Tutu, tutu, finished is my haduttu (story)."

3.       The Ataaba is a form of folk singing that spread outwards from Palestine. It consists of 4 verses, following a specific form and meter. The main aspect of the ataaba is that the first three verses must end with the same word meaning three different things, and the fourth verse comes as a conclusion to the whole thing.

4.       Food

Appetizers : Falafel - Shakshoukeh - Mafghoussa - Mutabbal - Bakdoonsiyeh - Pickled Green Olives - Artichoke Heart with Coriander

Salads : The Green leaves of spring in Palestine - Fatoush - Mish - Arabic or Fallahi Salad - Jarjeer Salad

Main Dish : Mjaddara - Rishtaye - Chicken Fatteh - Musakhan - Roasted Leg of Lamb - Aubergine with Tomatoes (Msaqa’a)

Desserts : Mutabak - Halawiyat Zalatimo - Qatayef - Cream Pudding with Pistachios " 'Eish es-Saraya".

5.       Father and son relationship is important because sons are valued to continue on the family name.

6.       Filial piety or respect for one's parents or elders.

7.       Women are expected to carry on domestic duties, marry and have children.

8.       Greetings Gestures

a.       Handshaking

b.      Bowing

c.       Avoid direct eye contact

9.       Touching Gestures

a.       Not touch oriented societies

b.      Avoid public display of affection

c.       Pushing (bumping) in crowds

10.   Avoid using fingers in pointing to an object.

                                                                    Ersin KOÇ