Palestinian Culture:
Tatreez, Dabke, & the
Art of Sumud

Palestinians speak Levantine Arabic (Shami), a distinct dialect of the Arabic language that carries centuries of regional history. The dialect varies between urban (Madani), rural (Fellahi), and Bedouin (Badawi) communities, reflecting Palestine’s diverse social fabric.

Literary Giants

• 1941–2008 Mahmoud Darwish — Palestine’s national poet. His work “Identity Card” and “Mother” are recited across the Arab world. Expelled from his village al-Birwa in 1948, he lived in exile for decades.
• 1936–1972 Ghassan Kanafani — Novelist and journalist from Acre. His novella “Men in the Sun” is a masterpiece of Palestinian literature. Assassinated by Mossad in Beirut.
• 1921–1996 Emile Habibi — Haifa-born writer whose satirical novel “The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist” won the Israel Prize for Arabic literature.
• 1917–2003 Fadwa Tuqan — “Poet of Palestine” from Nablus, whose verses gave voice to Palestinian women and national resistance.
• 1941–2024 Mourid Barghouti — His memoir “I Saw Ramallah” is a classic account of return and exile.

Famous Lines from “Identity Card”

“Record! I am an Arab. And my identity card number is fifty thousand. I have eight children, and the ninth will come after a summer. Will you be angry?” — Mahmoud Darwish

Oral Traditions

Before written literature flourished, Palestinians preserved their heritage through Hakawati (storytellers), Zajal (improvised poetry duels), and Ataaba (sung four-line verses). These traditions continue in weddings, festivals, and community gatherings today.

The Thobe — a long, embroidered dress — is the iconic garment of Palestinian women. Its intricate embroidery, known as Tatreez, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2021. Each stitch carries meaning; each region has its own distinctive patterns, colours, and motifs.

Regional Variations

The Kuffiyeh — Symbol of Resistance

The black-and-white kuffiyeh (keffiyeh) is the most recognizable symbol of Palestinian identity. Originally worn by Bedouin shepherds and farmers to protect against sun and sand, it became a symbol of resistance during the 1936–39 Arab Revolt and was popularized globally by Yasser Arafat. Its pattern represents fishing nets, olive leaves, and trade routes — the three pillars of traditional Palestinian economy.

Palestinian cuisine is a celebration of land, season, and family. Rooted in Mediterranean agriculture — olive oil, wheat, citrus, and fresh herbs — it is a cuisine of generosity and deep tradition.

Signature Dishes

• Musakhan — The national dish: roasted chicken with sumac and onions on taboon bread. Traditionally prepared during olive harvest.
• Maqluba — “Upside-down” rice with meat and vegetables (eggplant, cauliflower). Friday lunch tradition.
• Knafeh Nabulsiyeh — Sweet cheese pastry with shredded phyllo and orange syrup. Nablus is the undisputed capital of knafeh.
• Mahashi — Stuffed vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, vine leaves) with rice, meat, and herbs.
• Mujaddara — Lentils, rice, and crispy fried onions — simple but deeply comforting.
• Manakish — Flatbread topped with za’atar, cheese, or minced meat.

Olive Oil — “Liquid Gold”

Palestine is home to 10 million+ olive trees, some over 1,000 years old. The annual harvest (October–November) is a community event where entire families gather. Olive oil is used in every meal, and the olive tree itself is a powerful symbol of Palestinian identity — deep roots, resilience, and connection to the land.

Hospitality (Diyafa)

In Palestinian culture, welcoming the guest is sacred. Coffee (qahwa) with cardamom is served in a ritual, and guests are offered food three times — refusing the first two offers is customary, accepting the third is expected. “Ahlan wa Sahlan” (welcome) is not just a greeting; it is a philosophy of generosity.

Dabke is the national dance of Palestine — a communal circle dance where participants hold hands and stomp their feet in rhythmic unison. The word “dabk” means “stomping” in Arabic, referencing the dance’s most distinctive movement. Dabke is performed at weddings, festivals, and community celebrations.

Regional Dabke Styles

Traditional Instruments

• Oud — Pear-shaped string instrument, the “king of Arabic music”
• Qanun — 72-string zither played with picks
• Nay — Reed flute with a breathy, meditative tone
• Darbuka (Tabla) — Goblet drum providing rhythmic foundation
• Rababa — Single-string bowed instrument of Bedouin origin
• Mijwiz — Double-pipe reed instrument for folk dances

Modern Palestinian Music

From DAM, the first Palestinian hip-hop group, to 47Soul (electro-dabke fusion) and Mohammed Assaf (Arab Idol winner from Gaza), contemporary artists keep Palestinian identity alive on global stages. Rim Banna and Le Trio Joubran have carried the oud into the modern classical world.

Palestinian art is inseparable from resistance. Whether through the delicate glass of Hebron, the carved olive wood of Bethlehem, or the defiant graffiti on the West Bank Barrier, creativity has always been a tool for survival and self-expression.

Traditional Handicrafts

• Hebron Glass — Hand-blown glass with turquoise, green, and amber hues. A tradition since the 14th century. The Al-Fakhouri family has practiced for 500+ years.
• Hebron Ceramics — Handcrafted pottery with geometric and floral designs, developed from Ottoman-era techniques.
• Bethlehem Olive Wood — Carved from olive branches — nativity scenes, crosses, boxes. A 4,000-year-old craft tradition.
• Mother of Pearl — Intricate inlay work from Bethlehem, using sea shell to create jewelry, boxes, and religious art.

Handala — The Iconic Symbol

Handala, created by cartoonist Naji al-Ali, is a 10-year-old barefoot refugee boy with his back turned to the viewer. Al-Ali, himself a refugee from 1948, drew Handala as a witness to Palestinian suffering. “He turned his back to us in 1973,” Al-Ali said. “I will not turn him back until Palestine is free.” Al-Ali was assassinated in London in 1987, but Handala lives on as Palestine’s most powerful visual symbol.

Street Art & The Barrier

The 700km West Bank Barrier has become a canvas for resistance art. International artists like Banksy have painted sections of the wall, drawing global attention to the occupation. Palestinian artists continue to use graffiti, murals, and installations to challenge the wall’s very existence.

Palestine is home to one of the world’s oldest Muslim-Christian communities. For over 1,400 years, Muslims and Christians have lived as neighbours, sharing festivals, shrines, and a deep sense of belonging to the land. Today, approximately 93% of Palestinians are Muslim (Sunni) and 3–5% are Christian — with denominations including Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Melkite, Armenian, and Protestant.

Ramadan in Jerusalem

During the holy month of Ramadan, the Old City of Jerusalem transforms. Al-Aqsa Mosque hosts tens of thousands of worshippers for Taraweeh prayers. The streets fill with the scent of Qatayef (stuffed pancakes), and families gather for Iftar. The month culminates in Eid al-Fitr — three days of celebration with new clothes, special cookies (Ka’ak), and family visits.

Christmas in Bethlehem

Every year, Bethlehem — the birthplace of Jesus Christ (AS) — hosts Christmas celebrations at the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the world. Midnight Mass in Manger Square draws pilgrims from across the globe. The city celebrates two Christmases: December 25 (Western) and January 7 (Eastern Orthodox).

Shared Shrines (Maqamat)

Across Palestine, Maqamat (shrines) dedicated to saints and prophets are venerated by both Muslims and Christians. The Maqam Al-Khader (St. George) near Bethlehem is a striking example — Muslims call him Khidr, Christians call him Saint George, and both communities celebrate his feast day on May 5–6.

In Palestinian society, the Hamula (extended family or clan) is the fundamental social unit. A Hamula may comprise dozens of families sharing a common ancestor, a shared name, and a deep sense of mutual obligation. In the absence of reliable state institutions under occupation, the Hamula has remained a vital source of support, identity, and resilience.

Family Structure

• Patriarchal & Patrilineal — Lineage traces through the father’s line; family name carries honour.
• Patrilocal — Newlyweds traditionally live with or near the groom’s family.
• Multigenerational — Extended family homes are common, particularly in rural areas.
• Education — Palestinians have a 97%+ literacy rate, one of the highest in the Arab world. Universities like Birzeit, Al-Quds, and An-Najah are internationally respected.

Wedding Traditions (Zaffeh)

A Palestinian wedding is a community celebration lasting several days. Key traditions include:

• Tulbe — Formal proposal where the groom’s family visits the bride’s home.
• Khitbeh — Engagement with ring exchange.
• Henna Night — Women-only gathering where the bride’s hands are decorated with henna.
• Katb al-Kitab — The religious marriage contract.
• Zaffeh — Procession with drummers, singers, and dabke as the bride is escorted to her new home.
• Walima — The wedding feast, where the entire community is invited to share food.

Sumud — Steadfastness

Sumud (steadfastness) is the defining ethos of Palestinian resilience. It means remaining on your land despite every pressure to leave — continuing to farm, build, celebrate, and live with dignity under occupation. Sumud is not passive endurance; it is an active, daily act of resistance. As one Palestinian saying goes: “To stay on our land is our resistance. We will never leave.”