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| The Kuwaiti culture, just like many other arab cultures, takes great pride in hospitality. | The Kuwaiti culture, just like many other arab cultures, takes great pride in hospitality. | ||
| ===Tea and Coffee=== | ===Tea and Coffee=== | ||
| A large symbol of |
A large symbol of hospitality in Kuwait is ] and ] which is often offered in abundance. It is very uncommon for a guest to enter a house, office, or even some stores without being offered tea or coffee. In Kuwaiti ] custom, it is even considered to be a large insult should tea or coffee that is offered be refused by a guest, since it is a symbol of their hospitality towards the guest. | ||
| ===Greeting=== | ===Greeting=== | ||
| Kuwaitis traditionally greet each other by shaking hands and kissing cheeks. Traditionally men and women do not exchange more than a few words and possibly a handshake to greet each other in order to respect the privacy of the woman. However, it is common for women and men to kiss cheeks especially as relatives or close friends. It is also customary for people greeting each other to ask a long series of questions such as asking about one's health, that of their relatives, their jobs, etc. in order to relax the other person and give a sense of intimacy. | Kuwaitis traditionally greet each other by shaking hands and kissing cheeks. Traditionally men and women do not exchange more than a few words and possibly a handshake to greet each other in order to respect the privacy of the woman. However, it is common for women and men to kiss cheeks especially as relatives or close friends. It is also customary for people greeting each other to ask a long series of questions such as asking about one's health, that of their relatives, their jobs, etc. in order to relax the other person and give a sense of intimacy. | ||
Revision as of 12:05, 31 July 2005
The Kuwaiti culture is quite a unique one, well known for its hospitality and generosity.
Hospitality
The Kuwaiti culture, just like many other arab cultures, takes great pride in hospitality.
Tea and Coffee
A large symbol of hospitality in Kuwait is tea and coffee which is often offered in abundance. It is very uncommon for a guest to enter a house, office, or even some stores without being offered tea or coffee. In Kuwaiti bedouin custom, it is even considered to be a large insult should tea or coffee that is offered be refused by a guest, since it is a symbol of their hospitality towards the guest.
Greeting
Kuwaitis traditionally greet each other by shaking hands and kissing cheeks. Traditionally men and women do not exchange more than a few words and possibly a handshake to greet each other in order to respect the privacy of the woman. However, it is common for women and men to kiss cheeks especially as relatives or close friends. It is also customary for people greeting each other to ask a long series of questions such as asking about one's health, that of their relatives, their jobs, etc. in order to relax the other person and give a sense of intimacy.
Diwaniah
Diwaniah is a unique institution in Kuwait's culture: this is a gathering place for males (usually in the evenings, once or twice or even thrice per week, and sometimes even every night), where Kuwaiti men sit together in often comfortable couches and discuss any possible matters, be it political, social, economical, local or international. Diwaniahs can be called a symbol and proof of Kuwait's democracy, and no other Gulf country has anything like that, because people are free to discuss whatever they like without fear of persecution. Usually tea is served and sometimes snacks are provided by the host. Women also tend to host private diwaniahs at times, however they are not often as widespread and do not mix with male diwaniahs.
Some prominent merchants or MPs announce their diwaniah timings with the addresses in the newspapers, so that members of the public can come and visit them.
See also: music of Kuwait