Western Sahara customs

Western Sahara (Arabic: ال ع ربي, Spanish: Sáhara Occidental) is located in northwest Africa, located in the western part of the Sahara Desert, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and adjacent to Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria. In the capital, Aaiun, the official language is Spanish and Arabic is commonly spoken. The main residents are Arabs, Berbers and Saharans, mainly believing in Islam.

The area is also a disputed area over which Morocco claims sovereignty. Moreover, the Frente POLISARIO, a local independent armed group, ruled approximately a quarter of the deserted area to the east of the area, with most of the rest occupied by Morocco. Currently, only 47 countries recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic led by the armed regime as one of the independent Arab states.

There are only three large towns in the territory: Laayoune, in the northwest of the border, now under the actual control of Morocco, 30 kilometers away from the Atlantic Ocean, and was founded in 1934. It was originally the administrative, military and European settlement center of Spain's overseas departments. Population 133,000 (2007). Dakhla, on the central Atlantic coast, formerly known as the city of Sizneros, is a fishing port with a population of approximately 21,000 (2008). Smara, in the north, is an Islamic holy city with a population of approximately 8000.

Western Sahara is a typical sand-sand landform. Except for a few oases, almost all of the territory is desert. The western coastal area has low and flat terrain, with an altitude of less than 200 meters; the eastern area has a higher terrain, with an altitude of about 450 meters. Northeast Province is 800 meters above sea level, which is the highest area in the region. There are deep valleys on the plateau, the largest being the Sajiyehala Valley, also known as the Sajiyehamra Basin. There is no perennial river in the territory.

站图片位置Western Sahara has a tropical desert climate with an annual rainfall of less than 100 mm. Some areas often have no rain for 20 years in a row. The daily temperature difference is large, and the temperature change range between day and night in the mainland is 11℃ to 44℃. Lack of rain, drought and sultry heat are the characteristics of the Western Sahara climate. The annual rainfall in Laayoune, Dakhla and other places along the Atlantic Ocean is only 40 - 43 millimeters. Most of the territory is desert and semi-desert areas, with a tropical desert climate. The climate on the western coast is humid and the climate on the eastern plateau is dry. The average daily temperature difference in the mainland is 11℃~14℃.

Western Sahara is rich in phosphate mineral deposits, with Bukra alone reaching 1.7 billion tons, and modern phosphate mining sites have been built. Production came to a standstill after the war in 1976; production resumed in 1979. In addition, there are potassium, copper, petroleum, iron, zinc and other resources. Most residents are engaged in animal husbandry, mainly raising sheep and camels. Coastal fishery resources are abundant, and residents make a living by fishing.

Western Saharan society is based on tribes, the largest tribe being Rakibat, accounting for half of the total population. Each tribe consists of several families, and people of the same tribe move together on nomadic journeys. Each family is headed by an elderly and well-known person. The chiefs of all ethnic groups form a group to formulate tribal decrees based on Islamic law and appoint chiefs (chairmen). The chiefs of various tribes form the Council of Chiefs in Western Sahara, with dozens of members, and is the highest authority.

Western Saharans prefer blue. Regardless of men and women, almost all their bodies are wrapped in a blue cloth, hence the name "blue people". In cities, aristocrats, religious scholars and administrators often wore white robes.

For people in Saharan Africa, tea is as indispensable as love in life. Western Saharans also drink green tea, consuming one of the largest quantities in the world. Although nomads live relatively poor, they like to drink original China green tea most. In tea shops, China green tea packed in wooden boxes is piled up in mountains. All countries in the Sahara region have sent green tea purchasing teams in our country. However, Saharans do not like to drink new green tea, but prefer old green tea. Even if they were given the most advanced new green tea, added with mint, it would taste like a "traditional Chinese medicine soup".

Drinking mint tea is an ancient tradition in the Sahara region. There is also a proverb rich in life philosophy circulating among the people: "Love is as sweet as honey, life is as bitter as mint, and death is as ruthless as a desert." These have become the origin of the tradition of serving three cups of mint tea to entertain guests. However, they never soak their tea in boiling water, but add fresh mint leaves to boil it.

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Every morning, vegetable farmers in the vegetable garden will transport fresh tender mint grass to the market, bundle it into a small handful and sell it to customers. Whether people are at home, at work or at work, mint tea is indispensable. Get up in the morning and drink a cup of mint tea and add some bread to serve as breakfast. People with a slight status simply skip breakfast. As soon as they go to work and walk into the office, they call the tea maker to deliver tea and buy breakfast on their behalf. This special amount is included in the administrative expenses of the unit.

In fact, the custom of drinking mint tea by Saharans was accumulated in their struggle with the natural environment. The Sahara region has a large temperature difference between day and night, and it is also a place to "wear leather coats in the morning and wear gauze in the afternoon, and eat watermelon around the stove." People live in tents in the wild all year round, with sand under a thin layer of carpet or a piece of sheepskin. The invasion of underground moisture often makes them sore back and weak legs and feet. Tea can refresh the mind, sugar can provide energy, and mint has the effect of relieving fever and dispelling cold. It can be seen that mint tea is the most suitable health beverage for them.

People in the Sahara region are always very happy when guests visit. The owner usually walks out of the courtyard door or goes outside the tent to welcome them. After meeting, he embraces and welcomes them very affectionately. When a guest enters the door, the host and guest sit on the ground. Before talking, they usually invite the guest to drink three cups of mint tea to show the host's true feelings. According to the ancient proverb, three cups of tea represent "blessings, advice and tips" respectively. The first cup wishes love as sweet as honey, the second cup reminds us that life is as fragrant and bitter as mint, and the third cup reminds us that life is limited and death is ruthless.

In front of the guests, the owner put tea leaves and a few fresh mint leaves into the small teapot, put them on the small stove to boil, and then poured the tea into a small tea cup with only sugar added. The tea was as strong as coffee, and there was also a layer of white sugar foam with shredded tea leaves floating on it. At this time, the room exuded a unique fragrance and sweetness.

No. 44 Jinhe Street (now called Catalonia Street), the former residence of Sanmao Aayoune. More than 40 years ago, Echo, a Taiwanese woman from China modern writer (formerly known as mào and later renamed Chen Ping), came to Ayong by plane via the Canary Islands. She married, lived, made friends, and traveled here. She wrote under the pseudonym "Sanmao", bringing us the "Story of the Sahara."

"The Story of Sahara" mainly records what San Mao and Jose saw and heard when they lived in the Sahara Desert, and the story of their local acquaintance Shahebi (meaning a friend). Each story reveals this forbearance woman's love for life and determination in the face of difficulties. It tells the scattered details and experiences of her life in the Sahara Desert: the novelty of the desert, the joy of life, the riddled tents, tin huts, dromedaries and herds of goats, etc.

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in San Mao's "Desert Bathing Observation", which describes in detail the strange living customs of a Saharan. Due to the local water shortage, people only take a bath once in three or four years. The bathing method is also unheard of. Use stone slices to scrape off the mud on your body, and sometimes use seawater enema to clean your body.

Guka, a little girl in her teens with a "crisp and lively voice" in his "Doll Bride", married a husband whom her father had never met before she had time to understand love. The so-called price was to exchange back 200,000 yuan for her mother's family. Moreover, according to local customs, the little girl was beaten to her husband's home by the husband in the car while driving a wedding carriage, because they believed that "a good bride is a good bride who does not struggle when getting married and will be laughed at afterwards."