Douz, Tunisia - the International Sahara Festival

September 28, 2016

Location: Douz, Tunisia
Dates: 23-27 December
  Participation Level: 3 - wear a turban and put a bet on Salukis
While the Christian world is busy with scenes of snow, Christmasy, Saharan nomads flock to the bridge Douz, Tunisia powerful desert, for a celebration of their culture. Camel racing city receives sand, hunting rabbits with dogs like greyhounds Saluki and fantasias. In these military pilots exhibitions galloping Arabian horses with skill, in turn, stop and pull their guns.
Up to 50,000 visitors turban around North Africa has set up their Bedouin tents on the outskirts of the city. At night there are dances by companies and poetry, which remains the main method of communication in the desert of Tunisia, Algeria and the Palestinians. There are, of course, the odd camel tagine on offer - not to mention Tunisia finest dates, which are harvested in Douz at this time of the year.
Having started as a Berber wedding market, the festival public weddings. its current form was taken in 1967 as a way to preserve and promote the nomadic traditions. Berbers from the Sahara - which starts at 50 kilometers south of the city - with the decline of the Roman Empire in the fourth century, bringing with them the first camels seen in Tunisia.


  For over a century, the International Sahara Festival has been shown that it is possible to have a party in one of the harshest environments on the planet. The festival is the largest and best known in the country of Tunisia, and attracts visitors from across North Africa and worldwide.

  The most prestigious event of the festival is the camel race. After qualifying for the final race heats it on the last day of the festival before a crowd with a generous cash prize offer for the winner.
  The festival is set among sand dunes in and around the small town of Douz, the "Gateway to the Sahara" (the biggest desert in the world outside the polar regions). While the festival takes place in the desert, temperatures at this time of year is usually between 40 and 60 ° F (5-15 ° C). Upon arrival, you strangely perhaps the landscape seems familiar and think would be right for the surrounding desert was used as background Star Wars film.

  Expect a variety of events, ranging from camel racing to a traditional Bedouin wedding ceremony with the presentation of traditional crafts of the region. There is also music and dance was held in the same city at the House of Culture in Martyrs Square.

A Festival of the Ages ..

  The Camel Festival, as it was known, originated in 1910, while Tunisia was under French rule and included popular games and a Bedouin wedding market.In 1967, the festival has embraced its modern identity, largely due first president of the new republic Habib Bourguiba. In the following years, he quickly emerged as the most famous festival in the country, with an international sensation in 1981 with the addition of other Arab and African countries.

  With the evolution of the culture of Tunisia, the International Sahara Festival is a great way to discover the culture and the Bedouin lifestyle. The festival has become a festival which attracts over 50,000 people each year, nomads, poets, artists, camel jockeys, and even sand hockey players.

  In recent years, the festival was frequented by Westerners, more than ever. This influx of tourists has had an influence on the festival, especially music. Do not be surprised to find DJs playing techno music in parts of the festival ground.

Camel races, camel fighting and more ..

  Most events take place in the stadium H'naiech on the outskirts of the city. When the stadium is full, it is a very impressive sight. During the four days, the competitions include racing camels and horses, hunting and wilderness contest hockey rink.

  One of the most popular events is the camel taken, camels, where two strong heavy try to knock each other to the ground. It is the mating season, the males of the two rival herds compete for female attention. Gurgling hard to assert jurisdiction, that face, each using their necks to hit each other their feet.

The most prestigious event of the festival is the camel race. After qualifying for the final race heats it on the last day of the festival before a crowd with a generous cash prize offer for the winner.

  In addition, the last day, it is the Saluki (Moroccan greyhound racing) game. These dogs are incredibly agile and very fast. Similar to the British game, a rabbit is released and the dogs are sent to follow the trail. The paris are placed with a ferocity in which the dog will catch.

  Most events appear to be suitable for the crowd of men. balance belly seven large clay pots on his head ... while climbing a ladder. There's even a "Miss Sahara" contest that is guaranteed to draw a crowd.

Theatre and Dance ..

  Traditional theatrical works tell the story of a brave warrior named Mandour Bedouin. He falls in love with a beautiful young woman from a rival tribe that leads to dangerous and rivalry games. Meanwhile, the nakh (hair dance) is performed by a group of local girls with brightly colored dresses and veils. They swaying rhythmically in unison with his long hair music that was once used to hypnotize and deceive men for marriage. As the tempo increases its widest hair before falling to the ground sway circles.

  There is also a craft fair and poetry plays an important role, as it has always been a cultural tradition of communication in the desert. If the action becomes too much, you can always remove the area of ​​food and enjoy the delicious food served by these nomadic people food.





















































































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