Boys' Traditional Clothes in Makkah - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract

The role of cultural heritage is enhancing national identity is an important one (Clopot, 2016), and  traditional clothing is considered to be the most important aspect of national heritage. However, many people are abandoning traditional clothes due to the desire of acquiring contemporary fashions. This paper tackles this tendency, on the part of some people, as the Research Problem, issuing from the belief that losing national identity is a threat to society. The research aims to document boy’s traditional costumes in Makkah. Its importance lies in preserving our cultural heritage and our national identity by passing it on to future generations. The following are the research questions: Can we enhance national Identity through traditional clothes? What is the possibility of documenting traditional clothes and its complements for boys in makkah al-mukarramah? Is there any resemblance between boys and men’s traditional clothes? What where the social activities that children participated in?

This research will approach the problem through a qualitative historical documentary study methodology. Data were collected through a purposive sampling of 112 people from both genders who witnessed the era when the research was conducted. The study has documented traditional boy’s clothes in terms of their names, the fabrics they were made of, embellishment used, and events that kids participated in. This study concluded that kids wore miniature version of adult clothing. Furthermore, development of civilization has led to abandonment of many traditional costumes. The researcher recommends the following: A serious effort should take place to preserve traditional heritage, by including traditional celebrations in JANADRIYAH festival, to raise awareness of our cultural heritage and root it in our children’s memory. The researcher stresses the importance of creating a database that includes everything related to our cultural heritage, whether it is tangible, artistic, or verbal, to insure presenting and preserving our national identity.