Feature: Gazan youths try to preserve and revive Palestinian heritage

A woman presents an artifact at a festival to celebrate the Palestinian National Heritage Day, in Gaza City, Oct. 11, 2022. A festival featuring Palestinian folklore was held in Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday to celebrate the Palestinian National Heritage Day. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

by Sanaa Kamal

GAZA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- A festival featuring Palestinian folklore is being held in Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday to celebrate Palestinian National Heritage Day.

Traditional Palestinian art forms such as Dabkeh and Dehia dances, folk songs and embroidered products were displayed at the festival.

"We launched this event to promote the concept of national heritage among the Palestinian public through art," Mohammed Abu Shamala, one of the organizers told Xinhua.

"Palestinian heritage is what keeps our identity," said the 22-year-old, noting that the Palestinians need to revive their traditional trades and handicrafts by encouraging creative artists to explore in this field and supporting such projects.

Noha Abu Owaimer, a 29-year-old young woman from Gaza, came to the event to promote the traditional Palestinian-style wedding.

The young woman said she came up with the idea of starting her own wedding business after wearing a traditional embroidery wedding dress at her own wedding.

"At that time, my relatives and friends were surprised that I gave up the white wedding dress and wore my grandmother's traditional one," the young woman recalled.

Later, her friends came to her and asked if they could borrow her dress. It was then that she was hit by the idea to turn this into her career.

"All nations are proud of their heritage," she said. "I wanted to encourage others to organize their wedding ceremonies in a purely traditional Palestinian way."

"The Palestinian heritage is distinguished not only in the local area but also on the international stage," she said, adding that she had lots of customers in Gaza."

The same is for Iman Abu Hatab, a Gaza-based coordinator of a project called "Fanar," which introduces the Palestinian heritage to visitors to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

"Such a festival is important as it spreads historical and cultural awareness and promotes community tourism, encouraging citizens to preserve the cultural heritage of Palestinian society," she explained.

65-year-old Abu Mohammed Ibrahim brought his four grandsons to the event to let them learn more about their heritage.

"Such festivals would help the younger generations not to forget their history in this fast-developing world," he told Xinhua. ■

A woman arranges artifacts at a festival to celebrate the Palestinian National Heritage Day, in Gaza City, Oct. 11, 2022. A festival featuring Palestinian folklore was held in Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday to celebrate the Palestinian National Heritage Day. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)