On the sidelines of events related to the National Day of Crafts and Traditional Clothing, celebrated in the country on March 16 each year
Dozens of people took part in a parade under the slogan “El-Kharjah” on Sunday in the capital, Tunis, on the occasion of celebrations linked to the National Day of Handicrafts and Traditional Clothing.
The event was organized by the association “Notre patrimoine”, on the sidelines of the demonstrations still in progress and linked to the National Day of Crafts and Traditional Clothing, celebrated in Tunisia on March 16 of each year.
The parade started in the old town, passing by the “Zitouna” mosque and the old souks (markets), to end at “Habib Bourguiba” street, in the heart of the capital.
Young girls and women participated in the parade, wearing various traditional Tunisian clothes, including the “Sefsari”, which is a silk dress covering the whole body, with a striped shirt of different colors that characterizes the women of the capital, in plus a red chechia (traditional headdress), and distinctive head scarves.
Young people and men wore traditional clothing such as the “Jebba” (which materials and names vary), the “burnous” (often woven in wool), in addition to the “balgha” (leather shoes) , and the Chechia, red or black.
In an interview with Anadolu Ajansi, Zine El-Abidine Belhareth, president of the association “Our heritage”, declared: “It is essential to underline, on each occasion, the historical dimensions which link the Tunisian to his traditional dress. Our mission is to preserve the Tunisian heritage, identity and characteristics and to modernize them according to the times”.
“The event has reached its tenth edition this year, and the association (Notre Patrimoine) will strive to consolidate this event and have it registered by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture) as the World Day of Traditional Dress and Identity around the world”, added the president of the association.
And to continue: “The event is renewed each year to better underline the attachment of Tunisians to their identity and their homeland and to present a faithful image of our traditional dress. We are delighted today with the presence of foreign ambassadors (whom he did not name), and tourists who were impressed by this event”.
The Charge d’Affaires of the Iraqi Embassy in Tunisia, Abdul Hakim Al-Qassab, for his part, told Anadolu Ajansi: “Our country’s embassy in Tunisia is participating for the second time in a row in this event. alongside our Tunisian brothers, and we attend dressed in clothes that reflect the Iraqi identity, from north to south.”
For his part, the vice-president of the Mauritanian community established in Tunisia, Mohamed El Amine Ould Ahmed, declared to Anadolu Ajansi: “We are participating for the second consecutive year in the festivities surrounding the Day of Traditional Dress in Tunisia. is very important for people to distinguish themselves by their heritage and their identity, in Mauritania we come from an Arab-African culture and we are happy to attend this event which I hope can be organized in our country”.
Traditional fashion designer, Samia Sakli, meanwhile told Anadolu Ajansi that she “wants to participate in the ‘El-Kharjah’ every year”, adding: “I present clothes that reflect our attachment to our history, the one that forges our tastes and serves as the foundation for our future”.
