Arabic Culture in the Middle East - Essay Example

Arabic culture is full of traditions and customs that concentrate immensely on the significance of family and religion. Also, Arabic traditions and cuisine are largely influenced by the geographic regions that constitute the Arab region (Ayalon 14). This paper will look at three cultural practices that are impacted by history and geography.

First, Brides all over the Arab region take part in the customary henna ceremony or party. All the countries in the Arab region consider henna as both decorative and carrying fertility and good luck to the women who are going to be married (Ayalon 31). In some Arab regions, females go to a party shortly before the wedding where the feet and hands of the bride are painted with elaborate outlines. The henna paste is applied cautiously and should stay untouched on the skin for several hours to form a stout dark blemish. During this period the bride is kept company by her family and friends and this is her last chance to socialize without the watch of her companion and, finally, a household. In other Arab regions, the application of henna may be applied directly before the wedding or constitute part of the ceremony.

Second, Muslim eating practices exist all over the Arab region. Arab Muslims do not consume any alcohol or eat meat from pigs. In addition, these people keep the left hand at the side and eat with the right one during meals. This is because Muslim Arabs in all regions perceive the left hand as unclean. They are also extremely cautious not to point the sole of their feet at another person during meals if they are sitting on the floor. This is presumed to be offensive (Ayalon 38). Arab cuisine is also a mixture of richly different cuisines from all over the Arab region from northern Africa to the Middle East. They also consume lots of tea or coffee before, during, or after meals.

Finally, Arab communities have an extremely strict policy regarding female and male interaction. A large part of the Arab region is made up of conservative nations. Therefore, specified unspoken laws dominate female and male interaction. Members of the male population in general do not maintain eye contact or stare at females when they are having a conversation with them. All over the Arab region, it is regarded as insulting to look intently at a female member of the population when talking to them. Also, throughout history, male individuals in the Arab region have not been shaking females’ hands except when the females offered their hands (Ayalon 63).