The last day of Discover Oman, the younger elementary students celebrate by dressing in traditional Omani clothes and going out to the tents that are set up on the playground to take part in other Omani traditions.
Everyone in Caleb’s class looked great. The little guy in the blue dishdasha is Omani and you could tell that his clothes were authentic and not costume quality because the fabric was so nice. The second graders were patient all morning and finally got the OK to head to the tents!
First the children all got to try dates and another type of dessert. A sweet round thing that looked like a ball of dough that had been fried. It must have been good since all the kids went back for seconds.
Next, they all smelled the Arabic coffee that is flavored with cardamom.
Then she poured them each a cup of “special coffee”(grape juice)
Face painting time — the Omani flag
Henna application. The boys got khanjars (traditional Omani curved knife — Oman’s symbol) and the girls were given traditional flower and vine designs.
The henna is squeezed out through a small hole in a plastic bag, like piping frosting on a cake. The designs are all drawn free-hand. You leave the henna alone until it dries and flakes off. The henna stains your skin and the rust colored design lasts for about two weeks.
The shirt I’m wearing is made out of a massar, which is the scarf that the men wear wrapped around their heads.
Back in the day when camels were the main form of transportation, the men would put perfume on their tassels to keep the camel stink away. The boys all got perfume to put on their tassels.
She was so fast and so detailed with her designs
When they decorate brides before the wedding, they apply the henna all the way up to the knee
ETA: I almost forgot about the music! They had traditional singers and drummers and some of the kids had fun dancing. (not mine though)
Another great day at school. Time to head home for a nap!