ICE ORLEANS 2015
- Intercultural Communication Exhibition
The DJELLABA
Name: Djellaba Place: Maghreb
Origin: since 9th century Materials: wool, cotton
Occasion: Special events ( ramadan, eid festivities, weddings)
Djellaba is a traditional loose-fitting robe worn in Maghreb. It finds its origins in the Middle-East, indeed the Djellaba has some details in common with the Caftan worn in Central Asia and Persia.
Traditionally, Djellabas can be made of two different types of material, depending on the season, cotton for summer or wool for winter. Indeed it can be really cold in the Moroccan mountains, the Atlas.
Ddjellabas are made in different shapes and colors, and among the Berbers, in the Atlas Mountains, colors are meaningful. Indeed the color of a djellaba shows the status of the person who wears it (single or married), for instance a single person would wear a dark brown djellaba.
Almost all djellabas, for man or woman, include a hood, called a qob. That hood can be very useful, because it protects from the sun in the desert for example. But it can also be very windy in that kind of land, so the hood protects from sand blowing. And when it is cold, the hood is used like a hat, protecting from heat losses.
Nowadays people wear the Djellaba for special occasions, like the month of Ramadan, the Eid festivities, weddings or baptisms. But it is also worn in daily life, thanks to its great comfort.
