Culture and Religion in Syria

 

     Syrian culture and religion is multi-facetted. Although the majority of the countries population is Arabic and Muslim, they allow for some other cultures and religions to thrive too.

     Syria’s main national identity as strong Muslim Arabs defending and protecting their land creates deep feelings of cultural unity. Syria is mostly homogeneous with little discrimination towards most of the minority ethnic groups who hold an individual religious and cultural identity of their own. The several other ethnic groups that make up Syria’s population include the Kurds, the Alawite Muslims, the Druze, the Ismailis, the Armenians, the Circassians, the Beduoin and the Palestinians. The Kurds have their own different language and culture and are known widely for being persecuted by countries all over the middle east, the Druze live in mountains and are known as fierce soldiers, the Ismailis originated in Asia, most of the Armenians are from turkey and their religion is Christian, Circassians are Muslim and originate from Russia, the Beduoin are nomadic and therefore are separated from the majorit  of society and the Palestinian refugees are separated from the social and political life and occurrences in Syria.

The diet of a Syrian is similar to other Middle Eastern cultures. Wheat is their special crop and makes up a large part of their diet. Grilled lamb and chicken is popular although the majority of people cannot afford to eat it on a daily basis. For those who can afford it, often meals include meat, yogurt, humous, eggplant, olives lemon parsley, onion, garlic, vegetables, figs, plums and watermelons. For beverage consumption Syrians really enjoy tea, soda and milk. Alcohol is present but rear due to forbidden consumption rules of the Islamic religion. These foods are very significant to special occasions like the iftar during Ramadan.

Syria has significant class stratifications. Social classes usually do not cross the social boundaries.  The class stratifications can be compared to skin color as well. The lighter –skinned people generally rank higher in class and get better jobs while the lower class people who have poor jobs are mostly mad up of people with darker skin. Currently the land owner class has been taken over by the army officers from the most current coup-de-tat. The Syrian middle class seems to be growing due to peasants moving in to the cites and owning land and due to the spread of education. The way that and individual dresses may say something about their social class, educated upper class chooses to wear western-attire, women with wealth and status wear long roes with veiled faces, men wear long gowns. It is rare to find anyone wearing skirts, jeans, t-shirts and shorts.

In terms of gender, traditionally women work in the house-hold or in fields and farms. If women want to work outside of the home they have to go through a screening process and usually end u working in textiles or agriculture. Only 11 percent of women work outside their home. Although the Baath party’s goal was to allow equal rights for women, women are still viewed as property by their family. In terms of the family, it is the main vesicle for social life. The family in Syria is strongly patriarchal and it is not uncommon for man generations to live together in one house.

A very important part of the religious life in Syria is the notion of the Religious-judicial courts. In Syria, when there are social problems dealing with birth, marriage and inheritance Muslims go to the Sharia courts. While the other religions go to other religious courts. The two largest religions are Muslim and Christian. The Islam religion is based on the idea of The Five Pillars. the lwaite Muslims supposedly do not celebrate muslim holiday while the Ismailis the living Aga Khan as their leader. The Sufi sect of Islam is present in Syria although the government disapproves. The religious of practitioners of Muslim are simple people who read out loud from the Qu’ran and lead prayer sessions. It is believed that the Qu’ran rather than a person is their religious leader. Two common rituals include Ramadan which is a fasting period and Eid-al Adha, which is the end of Mohammeds Hajj. The Mosque is their worshiping place, no women are allowed inside and you must be clean and bare foot in order to enter.