Clothes and costumes of Aswan people :
Popular traditions and customs are represented in clothes, jewelry, and local events such as weddings, funerals, etc., and to preserve these traditions and folk arts, there are also many museums in Aswan such as the Aswan Museum and the Nubian Museum,[and linen is the most common fabric at that time, in addition to Wool, which was known, but was considered unclean. The skill of mastering spinning, weaving and sewing is very important to all Egyptian societies. Vegetable dyes can be applied to clothes, but clothes are usually left in their natural color.
Traditional clothes in Aswan:
The people of Aswan have their own distinctive style of clothing that differs from the Western style that we often see in Cairo. The Nubian style represents traditional culture, unique patterns and colors that symbolize peace and freedom. These handmade decorations are found in many aspects of the village, including utensils, toolsو, scarves and the walls; Because it plays an important role in its nature and identity, and the traditional clothes of both women and men differ in Aswan, and we can explain the difference as follows:
Traditional clothing for women in Aswan:
Women wear long and wide abayas and dresses, with beautiful shapes and lines woven into the colored cloth. Women value jewelry, so they often wear gold wherever they go because it gives them security and status. Women’s jewelry also looks interesting, and it mostly consists of flat and round gold discs that form necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings. Very similar to the ancient Egyptian style, it is an essential part of a complete traditional costume. The patterns and colors that are used are very attractive and very similar to mandala art, and the dresses are beautiful in appearance and comfortable to wear. Those who visit Aswan often wear clothes that suit the calm atmosphere and impart a sense of freedom inspired by the Nubians. In addition to jewelry, women also wore cosmetics such as black eyeliner, and women of the higher social class wore very thin clothes.
Traditional clothing for men in Aswan:
Men in Aswan wear white jellabiyas with a scarf wrapped around their neck and a turban. Egyptian men used to cover their heads with different head coverings. The pieces served as protection from the scorching sun, sand and other harsh weather conditions. There are three main head coverings used in this country; A skullcap, fez, and turban. The garments worn by Nubians often have wide sleeves and a collarless neck, perhaps more suited to the hot and humid weather they have to contend with in the desert. People did not wear shoes in the past, but they wore shoes for special occasions only, or if they felt pain because of walking barefoot, the rich wore leather sandals, while the poor wore sandals made of woven reeds, and the richer men adorned themselves with as many jewels as possible to confirm their social status
Nubian costume :
The Nubian costume is distinguished by its special attractiveness in its details and shapes, which reflect many features of the Pharaonic civilization.
It is a special costume that resembles the nature of the people of Nubia, with their white hearts and villages located in the far south on both banks of the Nile, which are interspersed with palm trees on every side.
Nubian’s love for these colors was reflected in everything in his life, and this was evident in his clothes, and his interest in them, to the extent that he would only wear some of them on certain occasions that had their own ritual.
Men’s uniforms in Nubian society are unified on most occasions, with the exception of weddings.
As for women, it is characterized by diversity according to age and marital status. We find that girls wear robes embroidered in light and calm colors, and after the girl gets married, she wears other clothes with rich embroideries and bright colors dominated by red, which she is not allowed to wear before marriage.
Although the Nubian women’s costumes are different in embroidery, colors, and materials, they are all similar in wearing “garjar” –over the clothes.
“ Jarjar ” is a dress woven from thin black tulle cloth, and decorated with delicate drawings in the same color, the most famous of which are grape leaves and the crescent in the past.
Today it has diversified to include hearts, roses and many other shapes.
The ” Jarjar “must be about an inch longer than the size of its companion in order to drag it behind her, hence its name “Jarjar”. It is said that it was designed in this way in the past to wipe the footprints of women while they were walking so that no one would follow them.
“Al-duss dress” and it is considered, as it was called in the past, the most important dress in the wardrobe of the Nubian woman, and it is the most important dress that the woman sews; Because it takes a long time to prepare and embroider it, and it may take several months, and it is in bright colors such as red and green or fuchsia and pink, and you only use it in weddings.
The Nubian woman is famous for her possession of gold jewelry, according to the word “Nuba”, which Pharaonic means “gold”, and this is due to the abundance of gold mines in its land since ages.
In weddings, we find the bride covered with gold from her head to her feet, as she adorns her head with bracelets known as “jakid” and her ear with “bartoy”. What distinguishes Nubian gold most is “zimam”, which is an earring that is in the upper part of the ear, and the other end is placed at the tip of the nose, and a chain connects them. Finally, two pairs “anklets” are placed on the foot.
The Nubian heritage is no longer reserved to the Nubians only, but many tourists love it. The Nubian costume is considered part of the Nubian civilization, which is what distinguishes the Nubians and they insist on preserving it. Women tourists often buy Nubian Jarjar and wear it in the streets, and they are very happy with themselves while wearing it, and they are also impressed. The people of Nuba adhere to their old uniforms.
Most of the tourist hotels in Aswan are keen to have their Nubian workers wear Jarjar as a form of distinction and exclusivity from the rest of the other hotels in the world. And the expression of the heritage and civilization of Nubia, which is found in Aswan Governorate only.
