Customs and Culture

 

Palestinian townspeople are accustomed and very helpful to foreign visitors. In villages and refugee camps, people are courteous, but they are morecurious and more conservative. The Palestinian areas are predominantly Moslem. The society is still to a large extent male-dorninated, despite significant signs of modernity and liberalism in the main cities, and especially in the central region of the West Bank; East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem. Strict Moslems do not drink alcohol and do not eat pork, only in predominantly Christian cities and in tourist sites will you be able to buy alcohol beverages or pork.

     

Language: The official language in the Palestinian areas is Arabic, but many people, especially in towns, speak other languages. English is quite common because it is taught in all Palestinian schools. You might hear French, German, Russian, Hebrew and Spanish in the Palestinian areas, but those languages are much less common than English. In any case, it is very useful to know even a few words and phrases in Arabic. Such words as 'Salam Alaikum': peace be upon you, 'Marhaba': hello, and 'Shukran': thank you, can make a difference, they will insure you more acceptance by the Palestinians whom you will meet, even if they speak your language.

     

Women's traditional costume in Palestine is 'the thoub', a long dress with cross-stitch and other designs usually representative of a particular region of the country. Menwear 'demaiah', a similar long dress but without the stitching, and the 'Kufiah or Hata', a headdress made of cloth in black and white, or in white alone. Traditional Palestinian dress is seen less and less nowadays, especially in the towns. It is more common in the countryside and amongst the older generation. The younger generations wear jeans and stylish western fashions. Tourists can wear any style except maybe shorts.

     

Palestinian food is most tasteful, agreeable and easy to digest. It is relatively cheap, nutritious and good for vegetarians. It consists mostly of vegetables, bread and rice. Meat dishes consist of lamb, beef or chicken. Though garlic, herbs and spices are applied, the food remains mild and smooth and in no way spicy.

Fast food restaurants and other ethnic cuisines are available in some cities like Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah. The cheapest option is the fast food at the smaller restaurants which tend to specialize inone dish or type of food such as Falafel, Humus, Fool(beans), Shawerma, or Kebab. Big restaurants will serve full meals beginning with traditional salads followed by a main meat or vegetarian dish. The main traditional dishes in Palestine are: Kebab: grilledlamb or beef meat. Musakhan: chicken cooked on bread with olive oil, spices and onion. Makluba: layers of rice,meat and vegetables. Mahshi: vegetables stuffed with rice,with or without meat. Kedreh: meat, rice, chickpeas, and spices cooked in a ceramic or copper jar and baked in the oven. Mansaf: rice cooked with yogurt and meat. Mansafis not a dish, it is a feast and a ritual, especially for the Bedouins who usually eat it by hand.

The main desserts in Palestine are: Kunafa: soft white localcheese cooked under a layer of orange shredded pastry withsyrup. Baklava: pastry layers with nuts and syrup.