Halimah and the Snake

Today while wondering around the Grand Mosque, I stumbled into a small gift shop.  On the bottom shelf – all alone was a book called “Halimah and the Snake and other Omani Folktales” by Grace Todino-Gonguet.   I picked it up figuring it would be an interesting read and a fun way to learn more about the culture.  On the way home I read the first story – “Halimah and the Snake” .  A fantastic Omani version story similar in ways to Cinderella and The Princess and the Frog.  Only instead of a fairy godmother there was a mermaid.  And instead of the frog there was a snake.    The story was illustrated with beautiful cultural pictures.  I’m excited to read the rest over the next week and get a different perspective of a people and culture I have grown to appreciate and love.

The Camel Limped from its Split Lip

An old Arabic Proverb says:  “To understand a people, acquaint yourself with their proverbs.”    Over the last 20 years Primrose Arnander, Ashkhain Skipwith, and Kathryn Lamb compiled a collection of Arabic Proverbs and sayings, transliterated them, translated them to English, and included the equivalent English proverb with illustrations.  Whether this was their intention or not, one who looks through these books will quickly realize that Rudyard Kipling was wrong when he said in “The Ballad of East and West” : OH, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.  Though separated by miles, oceans, and cultural and linguistic differences…we actually have a lot in common. Although phrased differently, many of these proverbs and saying have similar meanings to English Proverbs.

Every sun has its sunset  (All good things come to an end)

Go tile the sea! (Get lost!)

He who does not recognize the falcon grills it (Regrettable deeds are performed through ignorance)

The weapon of a woman is her tears (Trust not a woman when she weeps)

A camel limped from its split lip   (A bad workman blames his tools)

Your guilt stands at your side (A guilty conscience needs no accuser)

No answer is an answer (Silence speaks volumes)

Every knot has someone to undo it (Every problem has a solution)

Recently, I was sitting with one of my students and asking her about some of these Arabic proverbs.  I could not understand how some of these proverbs could mean what they meant until she began to explain them to me.

For example: “He who does not recognize the falcon grills it” (Regrettable deeds are performed through ignorance) .

Historically in the peninsula, Bedouins would train their falcons to hunt for food in the desert.  Falcons were able to fly over the sands in search of food and scan a larger and wider distance, saving the Bedouin from needing to wander through the hot desert and consume precious energy.  The falcon was crucial in helping the Bedouin to survive the harsh desert conditions.  To grill the falcon would be foolish.

Slowly beginning to understand these proverbs has helped me to have a greater understanding and appreciation for the culture and people of Arabia, not to mention been a great point of conversation.

Check out these books to learn more about Arabic Proverbs.

* Apricots Tomorrow

* The Son of  a Duck is a Floater

* Unload Your Own Donkey