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Domestic Customs Among Muslim Women In The Greater New Orleans Area By Denese Neu Islam And The Muslim Population Of Southeast Louisiana
Religion And Traditional Textiles The hijad, the woman's headscarf, may be the most recognized symbol of Islam. These scarves range from very simple mass-manufactured items to intricate hand-embroidered designs. Many wear handcrafted scarves with tatted edges or embroidery but this art form is not widely practiced in Louisiana; most purchase them from their native country or stores. A few Algerian immigrants continue to practice the tradition of embroidering the hijad. The embroidery and style differs among countries and some patterns are traditions of a clan. This article of clothing is a choice that can be styled in a variety of ways. Some of the styles come from particular countries or villages and are adopted by others through cross-cultural sharing. So some styles of wearing the scarf can be considered a folk tradition, however other styles are created for fashion, ease, or comfort. Members of this community who were interviewed requested that the traditional styles of wearing the hijad associated with native places not be photographed. The textile art form most widely practiced in the area is Palestinian cross-stitching. Called tatreez, it is the most indigenous form of art from Palestine. It is practiced by the women and adorns a variety of articles (such as table runners), but it is most commonly done on the floor-length, long-sleeve traditional dresses called thobes that feature blocks of elaborate cross stitch on the front, sides, and/or sleeves. They may be made from cotton or wool while others are cut from silk or velvet. Naheda Esmail, a Palestinian woman who immigrated to New Orleans in 1977, has kept the culture and practices of her native country along with her cousin and others who practice cross-stitching, primarily on thobes. Although the cross-stitch itself is very simple (it is simply an X), the intricacy of the patterns requires a great deal of time to complete. Mrs Esmail learned cross-stitching from her mother in Palestine before moving to the United States 20 years ago. A single dress can take five to eight months to complete; longer if the woman is employed outside the home. Because of the time investment, the women often work together on cross-stitching projects.
To see more dresses and details of the cross stitching, click here.
Next - Palestinian Wedding Traditions / Self-Taught Henna Artistry / Video
Denese Neu has a doctorate in Urban Studies from the University of New Orleans. She runs a consulting practice specializing in heritage, health, and sustainability issues; conducts independent research; and is an adjunct professor now residing in Chicago. She did this research as part of the New Populations Project in 2009. |
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