It exemplifies the perfect use of the Arabic language, and is considered to be the ultimate literary model.The music varies from region to region – for example, in the Hijaz, the music of al-sihba combines poetry and songs of Arab Andalusia, while the folk music of Makkah and Madinah reflects these two cities’ influences from throughout the Islamic world.Blacksmiths heat chunks of iron in a furnace and hammer them into gleaming swords and daggers.
Leather is cut and shaped into sandals, pouches and bags.
The melodic call of the muezzins could be heard rising from minarets across all Muslim cities.Today, Saudi women still receive gifts of jewelry from their husbands when they marry or have children. Numerous restoration projects have been undertaken to safeguard the Kingdom’s architectural heritage, including restoring historic buildings and neighborhoods.The other highlight is the Hajj season, during which millions of Muslim pilgrims from around the world come to Makkah. An ancient tradition with its roots in the country’s central area known as the Najd, the ardha is a combination of singers, dancers carrying swords and a poet or narrator. Today, a veil is also a sign of modesty and virtue.The Department of Culture regularly sponsors exhibitions, literary readings and symposia at its regional offices as well as its Riyadh headquarters. Basket makers weave palm fronds and straw into hats, baskets and containers decorated with colorful designs. Every mosque has at least one minaret, although two are more common, and larger ones have more, with the Holy Mosque in Makkah boasting 12 magnificent ones. And every year for the past 14 centuries, Muslim pilgrims from around the world travel to holy sites in Makkah and Madinah, further enriching the region’s culture. Other projects include the ancient sites of Fau, Madain Saleh, Al-Ula, Tayma, Duma and along the Darb Zubaydah, the pilgrimage road to Makkah.Dance is also popular among Saudis. Unlike their ancestors, who received large amounts of bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces as part of their dowry, modern Saudi women wear jewelry in traditional and contemporary designs with diamonds and a variety of precious metals. SAUDI ARTS & CRAFTS IS UNDER REDESIGN. Jewelers used stones such as turquoise, garnets and amber from the Kingdom’s rich mines, and pearls and coral from the coastal areas. Other clubs offer Saudis the opportunity to develop various artistic talents.Saudis prefer traditional clothes to Western styles of dress, and generally wear modern adaptations of age-old designs. They range in size from some 20 feet in small village mosques to 360 feet in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.