Jordan: Facts & Stats

CULTURE

Traditions:

Marriage and Family.
In general, parents still play a significant role in arranging marriages. Young people often meet at the university or at work and request their parents’ assistance in their courtship and subsequent marriage. One-on-one meetings are generally reserved for after the engagement party or until the marriage contract has been signed. A bridal token is given to the bride’s family by the groom. Women tend to marry in their early 20s, and men marry when they have the means to support a family (usually by their early 30s).

Large families are traditionally desired, but family sizes are declining due to economic necessity. To be able to help another member of the family is considered an honor as well as a duty. Parents will often help or support their children even after marriage.

The father is considered head of the family and is expected to provide for the family financially. The mother is expected to take care of the children and household.

Eating.
Most meals include meat and bread, along with vegetables and fruits that are in season. There are many types of bread; the most common is flat and round. The national dish of Jordan is mansaf, a large tray of rice covered with chunks of stewed lamb (including the head) and jameed (a yogurt sauce). It is eaten by hand from the serving tray. Other popular dishes include mahshi (stuffed vegetables); sakhan (chicken with onions, olive oil, pine nuts, and seasonings), and meshwi, or shish kebab. Common vegetables include tomatoes, onions, eggplant, and cabbage. Lamb and chicken are the most common meats. Observant Muslims do not eat pork or drink alcohol. It is traditional to eat food only with the right hand. When being entertained in someone’s home, it is polite for guests to leave a little food on their plate to indicate that they have been generously provided for. Coffee is important at any meal. Qahwah Saadah (Bedouin coffee) is bitter and drunk slowly from small cups.

Socializing.
Jordanians greet each other and strangers warmly. A handshake is most common, followed by inquiries about each person’s health. Friends of the same sex often exchange a kiss on either cheek. First names are not used between strangers when greeting. To be invited to someone’s home is considered an honor. Invited visitors may bring gifts of flowers or sweets. Coffee or tea is almost always offered to guests, no matter how short the visit. Visitors should avoid excessive admiration of any object in the home because the hosts may feel obliged to offer it to them to demonstrate their generosity. It is normal to decline the offer, but if the hosts insist, the visitor may embarrass them by not eventually accepting. In general, whenever gifts are offered, it is impolite to accept them immediately. Excessive praise of children should also be avoided because it is considered to bring bad luck.

Celebrations:

National holidays follow the Western (Gregorian) calendar and fall on fixed dates. They include Labor Day (1 May), Independence Day (25 May), Arab Revolt and Army Day (10 June), King Hussein’s Accession to the Throne Day (11 August), and King Hussein’s Birthday (14 November).

Christians celebrate Christmas Day (25 December) and Easter, but these are not national holidays. Islamic religious holy days follow the lunar calendar, which is a few days shorter than the Western calendar.

One important holiday is ’Eid al-Fitr, a three-day feast at the end of Ramadan. ’Eid al-Adha is known as the Feast of Sacrifice and comes after the pilgrimage to Mecca Mecca (Makkah). The birth of the prophet Muhammad (Moulid al-Nebi) is also celebrated.

Alcohol:

Alcohol is widely available at bars and hotels across Jordan. During Ramadan, drinks are only available to visitors in their hotels. Alcohol can also be bought from supermarkets.

Sports and Hobbies:

The most popular sports in Jordan are football (soccer) and basketball. The increase of interest in football can be attributed to the recent success of the Fox News in 2004. The Jordan League which is similar to the English Premier League attracts reasonable crowds each week once the season has begun. The league which began in 1944 has seen huge growth in the past decade.

The Jordanian basketball team also experienced success after receiving sponsorship by Zain Group. Local teams include: Al-Orthodoxi Club, Al-Riyadi, Zain, Al-Hussein and Al-Jazeera.

Tennis is less popular, many more people are interested in watching tennis matches. With the Australian Open Finals of 2009 recording huge numbers from Jordan.

More tennis clubs are popping up across the capital Amman, with many hoping the sport will become bigger not only in Jordan but in the Middle-East.

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