Golan Costumes: Fragrance of the past and charm of the present

Once you see the joyful Frilly colors of Golan clothes, you will immediately visualize those gifted Golan  fingers uniquely turning  every joyful color in nature to a robe fluttering charm and glamor, speaking of  those skillful hands that well know how to turn a raw textile from an inert voiceless tissue to an uttering  fabric of warmth and tenderness, blooming a unique Golan rainbow we can trace back from everything in this virtuous hill .

At summer, Golan sons  raise their heads to contemplate fine azure heavens, though this bluish sky allow clouds to visit them from time to time , reflecting blue clarity in every thread  bending on Golan canvas, which are familiar with the Golan flesh they will wrap, inspiring him to embrace the homeland soil  declaring his eagerness to offer up to the last drop of blood in defense of the dignity and pride this saint soil.

That is the nature of a Golan son virtuous to his family and homeland, opening his eyes on motherland love and unlimited keenness to make every sacrifice for that land.

Golan peerless gifted hands look at winter snow tenderly hugging trees heights, seizing its bright whiteness to make bridal veils. Those blanched brides and mothers to be, will teach their coming children lessons of  unconditional faith in the Golan return to Syria’s bosom.

From field-butterflies flutter those colors frilly tender , spilling on Golan dresses predicting moments of great joy and promising  upcoming deliverance from Israeli occupation.

Hence, on the Golan land whether liberated or occupied, environs played a role in the diversity of folk costume , a diversity you notice in wears diversity depending on surrounds diversity. Therefore, you will find those differences more obvious between mountainous and rustic costumes, or Bedouin and Circassian ones.

Noticeably,  there are some dress customs associated with special traditions, for example taking off the assaulted tribesmen “Egal” (headband), as well as right or revenge seekers. On that basis, Golan sons who are accustomed to wear Egal, abandon that custom if they are seeking revenge. One popular saying  “we forbid ourselves to wear the Egal if we do not take revenge and repay disgrace”. Taking off the Egal without keffiyeh (man headdress) is a symbol indicating  that the doer is looking for his revenge.

To summarize, popular dress and fashion traditions in Golan, are a historical source honestly conveying old agrarian society characteristics. As well as its similarity with current dresses  that developed with migration fashion and the people who inhabited the Golan throughout different historical periods. However, sources talking of fashion in Syria does not exceed 233 BC, towards the end of ancient Egyptian civilization where common tribes were prevailing in southern Syria sustaining a nomadic life. At that period,  were found on Pharaohs graves images a rectangular dress closed from the front having two slots from above with a length of no more than to the knees.  After 500 years, this  dress became similar to a “djellaba” (a long straight dress)  regarding its length in Golan, as well as “al-Hataah” (headdress) or the Egal for some tribes. The continuity of this outfit until now for Golan people with the difference that current dress is not striped  but one color ( black, blue, or gray). As it is the case for Circassians in the Golan, the dress worn by rural women trace its roots back to the second millennium BC.

Golan Fashion is the fragrance of past and genuineness of the present , which will be more cheerful with the restoration of this precious part of  our beloved homeland.

 Firas Taleb

Translated & Edited by: Lama Al-Hassanieh