Nawar's Research for The Golden Cow

After interviewing my mother and my grandmother regarding “The Golden Cow” story, I gathered the following information:

Era:

1950’s – 1960’s

Transportation:

Cars

Technology:

Electricity was just introduced and they were still using fanars (Lanterns).

Clothing:

-       Young girls used to wear jlabias/Dra’a (Long dress), surwal (pants with decorations (zari) at the bottom), bukhnag (Head wear). They used to braid their hair and put mushmoom (a good smelling plant) between the braid.

-       Young boys used to wear Thoub (Long white dress), Gahfya (Head wear), surwal (pants)

-       Women used to braid their hair as well, wear jlabia, abaya (over the head), mlfa’a (like the shaila (scarf) now), batoola (mask), surwal

-       Men used to wear Thoub, Ghutra (head scarf) and Ogal (black rounded head wear), Bsht (in Occasions). The Ogal used to be not only black but also had golden threads.

-       Bride wears zari dara’a, abaya, Batoola (because it tells everyone that she’s not single anymore) and the rest is the same as the other women.

-       Groom

The women clothing were colorful and the fabric was imported from India. The Jlabias, the surwals and the bukhnags had zari threads (mostly golden)

Architecture:

-       Houses weren’t made of clay, they were made of cement

-       The ceilings were made of big chunks of wood woven together with strong threads and then was covered with what is called “blaiwet”

-       The houses had Laiwans (open space infront of the was that separated the rooms from the front yard). All the gatherings and the events used to happen in this open space.

-       Doors were wooden. They were huge and were called Mzlaj. They had a smaller door in them called Farkha and this is if they did not want to open the whole door, they’ll just open the smaller one.

-       They had seating areas with Misaned and Doshags (Cushions and mattresses). They were mostly white and have navy zari embroidery ornaments.

-       Khila (the bride and the groom’s room): The khila is the traditional prepared room for the bride and the groom, it used too have a high wooden bed with bright colored bed sheets. The walls used to be covered with mirrors and big colorful fabric (silk) pieces hanged on the wall. They also had a seating area and big windows.

Pre-wedding celebrations:

-       In the past, all the preparations were collaborative. Not only the mother would prepare for the wedding, but also the whole neighborhood would help.

-       They used to prepare a week before the wedding happens. They would sing and dance all together. They clean the rice, peel the lemons, grind the grains (harees) and collaborate on cooking.

Dazza: is when they gather all the visitors and show them everything that belongs