FAMILY LIFE

According to Qatari tradition, each household is part of a clan, which is a group of related families. Clans are parts of much larger tribes. Tribes are, in effect, large extended families. Although tribes were once distinguished by differences of speech, dress and customs, in modern Qatar these differences have largely been erased. Nevertheless, ties among members of a tribe remain strong.

In the past, some tribes were nomadic, living in tents that could easily be packed up and moved. Today, a few people still live semi-nomadic lives in the desert, but most people have settled in cities and towns and have jobs in industry or with government. Most families live in individual houses. The government provides housing for all citizens who need it. Private companies or government agencies that hire foreign workers also provide them with housing.

People tend to marry within the tribe. Marriage is a family and business matter. Virtually all marriages are arranged, sometimes even when the concerned parties are quite young. Girls are deemed of marriageable age at about 14 or 15 years old. In the past, girls as young as 12 could be married, but the trend in recent years is to wait until the girl has completed her education. The groom's family traditionally pays a bride-price to the bride's family before the wedding. Qatari weddings are elaborate affairs, lasting several days. There are separate ceremonies and celebrations for women and men.

Hospitality is an important feature of Qatari life. Most Qataris receive male guests at home in a majlis (reception area). Traditionally, according to Bedouin custom, guests were seated on the floor on large cushions. Nowadays, however, the majlis usually has sofas and chairs. Men and women rarely socialize together. Women receive their friends in a separate part of the house

Most Qatari women, especially older ones, wear the thoub, a long black coat, which covers the entire body, and a hejab, a black headcovering through which only the eyes, nose and mouth are visible. Underneath the thoub, women often wear Western-style clothes. Despite these restrictions, Qatari women are permitted to drive cars. They are also eager to become more educated and compete with men in different professions. There are considerably more female than male students attending Qatar University

Golden swords and clapping hands

Dancing is a form of expression which comes into its own on special celebratory occasions and the Eid holidays are perfect examples of the times that you are likely to see groups of folk dancers performing around the country.

Sometimes there will be special performances in the parks, just for the ladies, by the ladies but mostly it will be the men’s dances that you are likely to see. Amongst them, one of the most popular dances and the one performed most frequently at celebrations here in Qatar is the Ardha, where the dancers will be carrying ceremonial swords

It is performed on religious holidays, such as Eid, but also on other special occasions, such as the country’s independence of His Highness the Emir.

It is a dance performed to display the unity and strength of the group and is a display of allegiance to the Emir and the society. It combines dance and poetry, with a poet moving back and forth between two lines of singers and dancers. The poet gives each group of singers a line to repeat before moving across to the other group. The traditional lyrics are of horsemanship, chivalry and strength. But as with all dances, the pattern and format chances slightly over time and the Ardha is performed in a slightly different way now to its form many years ago. Nevertheless, the significance of the dance remains the same.

Another traditional dance often performed in public is the Lewa dance performed purely for pleasure. Originally imported from the cost of East Africa, it is very much a part now of the Qatari tradition. It is one of only two dances here that was originally performed by a mixed group of men and women. It is a popular dance at weddings and on religious occasions. Amongst the women’s dances are Khammary, performed by a group of masked women who will co-ordinate their steps to the beat of the music. It is light lyrics, often based on love poems and has been a popular dance at weddings. Other women’s dances are Sameri and Ashouri, performed on similar celebratory occasions.

Then of course there are all the dances associated with the sea. Since for many years the country’s economy revolved around pearling and fishing, these traditions are very strong and performances by the Qatari Folk Troupe at venues like the Qatar National Theatre will usually include these.