The hospitality culture of the Bedouin people has remained relatively unchanged for the last several centuries, and has been very well documented due to the many people from the field of sociology and history who have experienced it over time. The way they greet new acquaintances is based on several important social customs and rules that will be detailed in the following article Bedouin tent.
The Guest is Always welcomed into the Bedouin Home
One of the well acknowledged and documented social customs in Bedouin tradition is that anyone who visits the tribe’s home or family is always welcomed. The guest is considered to be to be a “guest from God” as well as always accepted as if they were guided there by the guidance of God. Bedouin tribesmen always show hospitality to anyone who comes to visit as it is considered a way to pay tribute to the creator.
Coffee and Tea is the core of the Home
Every guest who comes to the Bedouin home will be served coffee and tea. You are allowed to decline the offer but those who do be greeted with respect and warmly welcomed as friends. The tea will be sweet and frequently flavored with sage or mint. Tea is usually served with tiny glasses as opposed to western cultures. After tea, coffee is also served as it is an essential component of Bedouin hospitality.
A Bedouin Tent is much more than just a simple home
Bedouin tents are often referred to as Bayt Char, also known as the “house of hair”. This is due to the fact that the traditional Bedouin tents are constructed from hair of goats. They are the ideal refuge for desert dwellers Bedouin tribesmen because when wet, the hair expands and blocks the water in. It’s also extremely comfy in hot weather as in the middle of summer, it provides an incredibly cool escape from the sweltering temperatures of dessert. When winter is cold, the dessert, the classic Bedouin tent is also an incredibly warm and cozy alternative to the cold dessert air.
Take note! The Bedouin tent is typically separated into two sections, or “rooms” with the curtain that is known as ma’nad. This permits the tent to be divided into two sections: one for males and a separate section that is for women. The visitors will be guided to the area that is part of the Bedouin tent that is most appropriate for their gender. The location where the majority of men are welcomed is called the mag’ad, also known as a’sitting’ location’, while women are received in the maharama or “place of women’s”.