Part1
These are some general information about Kuwait.
I hope that this information will be useful.
*The Kuwaiti culture:
1- Greeting:
Kuwaitis traditionally greet each other by shaking hands and kissing cheeks. However, men and women do not exchange more than a possible handshake to greet each other in respect unless the man and the woman are related to one another(Father,Uncle,Nephew,Grandfather)Usually, elders are greeted first as a sign of respect.
2-Tea and Coffee:
Hospitality in Kuwait is often portrayed through the serving of tea and coffee.In Kuwaiti bedouin custom, a guest's refusal of tea, coffee, or such offerings is sometimes viewed as insulting by the host, as it is as if the guest is denying the host's efforts of being hospitable and generous. Common types of teas that are served include chai, black tea, green tea, peppermint, lemon, and chamomile.
3-Food:
Food plays a large part in Kuwaiti culture. The national dish of Kuwait known as machboos (Arabic: مكبوس) consists mainly of mutton, chicken, or fish placed over or mixed in a large mass of well-cooked and prepared rice. Food is almost always prepared and served in large amounts, and it is extremely common for households to invite guests over to share meals.
*Dewaniya:
The Dewaniya has existed in Kuwait since time immemorial. In the old City of Kuwait it was the reception area where a man received his business colleagues and male guests. Today the term refers both to a reception hall and the gathering held in it, and visiting or hosting a dewaniya is an indispensable feature of a Kuwaiti man's social life. Some claims that the term originally referred to the section of a bedouin tent where the menfolk and their visitors sat apart from the family.
Dewaniya became a fundamental part of Kuwaiti life. Hence, it has become a mark in their traditional daily life.
1-Purposes:
The Dewaniya's are the core of Kuwait's social, business and political life, the places where topics of interest are discussed, associates introduced, alliances formed, and similar networking activities undertaken. Formal Dewaniya's may be convened to discuss particular topics, sometimes with invited guest speakers. They are also called for particular purposes, such as election campaigns. Formal Dewaniya's are the root of Kuwait's consensual political system.
2-Types:
Dewaniya has several types, private, public and family. The private is just for close friends who usually gather daily and public are fixed with a weekly timing where anyone can visit, while family dewaniya, is an official gathering of prominent family, where all people can come and meet the family members.
A-Family Dewan or Dewaniya:This was the original form of the Dewaniya that started when each family (only a handful in the 18th century) very known as the Family Dewan would set up an extension to their main home to host guests and discuss important issues. This would also be the place that wedding ceremonies and funeral rites would be held for the male side of the family. The elders of the family are usually in attendance and sit at the head of what is usually a U-shaped hall to welcome guests and lead the discussions.
B-Political Dewaniya:These Dewaniya's are a relatively recent development of the 20th century when Kuwaitis started seeking political rights and more representation in a system that had become more skewed towards an absolutist rule by the Emir in contrast to the more participatory consensual system that existed earlier. Its considered as a public Dewaniya.
C-Casual Dewaniya:These Dewaniya's are usually organized by groups of friends of the same age group on one member's property. This type is usually the most relaxed with participants playing cards Janjifa like Koutbo6, smoking Shisha (sometimes called the Hookah) or watching football games and other sports. Its considered as a private Dewaniya.
3-Times:
Most Dewaniya's start after the sunset till midnight the whole year round and recently it started having a break in summer.
Do not hesitate to ask for help to find out more about Kuwait.
Leave you in God's hands
