Did you know that the Syrians dedicated an annual festival to the walnut tree, which they call the “Walnut Festival” (Eid al-Jawza), well now you know!
The Walnut Festival, known as “Eid al-Jawza,” is a unique and culturally rich celebration in Syria that brings together communities to honor the walnut, this festival, deeply rooted in tradition, showcases the importance of agriculture in Syrian society, while also serving as a time for joy, togetherness, and cultural expression.
Walnuts have long been an integral part of Syrian agriculture and cuisine. Actually, walnuts are not only a key ingredient in many traditional dishes, but they are also a main ingredient in sweets, snacks, and even as a health remedy due to their high nutritional value. The annual harvest of walnuts is a time of great anticipation, marking the culmination of months of hard work.
It Is the preferred tree, for the Syrians have not loved a tree in nature more than their love for the walnut tree, nor has any tree in their magnificent Ghouta enchanted them more than this ancient, towering tree.
The extensive use of walnut wood in the production of furniture, furnishings, and doors of Damascene homes, as well as in various wooden tools and equipment, is famous in Syria. For centuries, walnut wood has also been used in the construction of the famous waterwheels (norias of Hama). In recent years, walnut shells have also been used in the production of adhesives and plastics, and they are also used in the preparation of solutions for cleaning and polishing metal surfaces!
The Walnut Festival has its roots in ancient agricultural practices, where farmers would come together to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the land’s bounty. Over time, this tradition evolved into a celebration, with activities that reflect the deep connection between the people and their land. In various regions of Syria, particularly in areas known for their walnut groves, the festival has become an important cultural event
It typically takes place during the walnut harvest season, on 28 August.But why was this day, when did the Walnut Festival begin, and what are its rituals and activities? Let’s find out.The exact timing of the festival aligns with when the farmers can harvest the walnut.
The community celebrates the Walnut Festival with a variety of activities that highlight both the agricultural and cultural aspects of the occasion.
First, it is the harvesting, the day often begins with a communal walnut harvest, where families and neighbors gather to collect the nuts. Second, they gather to crack and open the walnuts, sometimes done collectively as a symbolic act of sharing and community.Third, preparation and sharing of traditional dishes made with walnuts. These might include “Ma’amoul” (a type of filled cookie), “Jouziyyat” (candied walnuts), and various savory dishes that incorporate walnuts as a key ingredient.
Unfortunately, farmers rarely celebrate this day due to the challenges they face,instead, the farmers gather and harvest walnuts then, the people gather and start to crack the walnuts and remove their thick shells, so they are later sold in the city markets ready to eat.
On the lucky side, they still have the core of this day, the Walnut Festival is about community. It is a time when people come together to help each other and also their shared heritage and values.
The love of the people of Damascus for the walnut tree did not stop at establishing an annual festival for it; there is also a neighborhood in the Sarouja area in the heart of the capital called “Jawzat al-Hadba” (Walnut of the Hump).Additionally, there is an old mosque named “Al-Jawza Mosque” located in the Al-Amara area of Old Damascus, the mosque was named so because it was next to a walnut tree.
So, why wait? Embark on a journey to Syria, and discover the Country’s timeless beauty. We would be happy if you could share your photograph of your Syria Tour with us on Social media.
For more information about Syria’s Culture please get in touch with us today! Alternatively, check out our extensive range of group Syria tours.
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Josh 2024-06-23 Lulu was our tour guide in Damascus in October 2022 and she was the best guide we could‘ve hopefully for! We had a tight schedule so we asked to see as much as possible, which she happily obliged to. She has a very interesting background, knowing every last bit of the city, its culture, history and food! She speaks multiple languages, including Japanese (!) and was just a fantastic guide to have. 10/10 would recommend. Samantha Echeverria 2024-06-23 An extraordinary and humbling experience. From start to finish the whole experience was an adventure, learning of the Syrians deep history gives a great insight to their collective strength and dedication to their culture. To walk the same footsteps as mentioned in the Bible and Quran is profound and indescribable. Overall I was incredibly humbled by my experience in Syria. Thank you again for the experience of a lifetime, and I look forward to coming back to Syria soon 🤲🏼 Per Sommer 2024-05-31 Jeg rejste tre dage sammen med Tambi i det nordlige Syrien. Det var en uforglemmelig oplevelse. Sammen besøgte vi Homes, Krak de Chevaliers, Maloula, Aleppo, Arward Island og Apamea. Ikke bare er Tambi blevet en god ven, men han har også en kæmpe viden om de steder, som vi besøgte. Et af højdepunkterne var også at være på besøg hos Tambi i hans lejlighed og møde hans kone. Her fik vi te, kager og en god snak om oplevelserne under den lange krige. Jeg kan kun give Tambi mine varmeste anbefalinger. Marco Arenas 2024-05-31 I was in Syria a few years ago doing a little tour with Ayoub and the experience was amazing, Ayoub and his team were marvelous guides all around the country, making the most of the trip. Their service is amazing. I highly recommend Ayoub because he is reliable and well-organized. I am looking forward to coming back to Syria! Junaidi 2024-05-21 I recently had the pleasure of exploring Syria with Tambee as our tour guide, and I can't recommend him highly enough. Tambee’s deep knowledge of Syria's rich history and culture brought every site we visited to life. His passion for the country was evident in the way he shared stories and historical insights, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. Tambee’s professionalism and attentiveness were remarkable. He ensured our group felt safe and comfortable at all times, handling all logistics seamlessly. His ability to navigate the complexities of travel in Syria, combined with his warm and friendly demeanor, made our journey both smooth and memorable. What I really love is his knowledge of Islamic History. The way he told me the History of Islam while we are standing on the historical site itself just gave me goosebumps. He can make the history comes to life. In summary, Tambee is an exceptional tour guide whose expertise and dedication significantly enhanced our Syrian adventure. If you're planning a trip to Syria, do yourself a favor and contact Tambee. You won't be disappointed! Joel Lara 2024-05-20 Everything on the tour was amazing. Whatever you need to feel comfortable, they will go out of their way to make sure you feel okay. Tambi was our tour guide and I honestly would not have switched anything about it. He is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever met. Someone that is really passionate about sharing the past, present and future of Syria. You need to book your trip to Syria as soon as possible. There is so much history to be seen in this country. Do yourself a favor and don’t listen to what western media would say about this country. Saying it’s all about terrorism and dangerous, that’s a HUGE lie, go see for yourself how kind and loving those people in Syria are. As for the war in Israel, it feels really safe in Syria. You going there gives people hope for a better future. Visa costs depend on nationality. As a US citizen my Visa was pretty costly 220$. It was WORTH IT! Cymbie Lumbao 2024-05-20 Syria was definitely on our list of country to visit. It exceeded our expectations! Syrians are the most hospitable and warmest people we have ever met. The history is amazing! Tambee is our tour guide and Tayseer is our driver. They are the best! Tambee is very passionate about his country and their history. We felt really safe and well taken care of. We would definitely visit again. We went in for a tour of Syria and came out with a lifelong Syrian friends! 🙏🏽🇸🇾 thank you for a wonderful experience! Shukran! Rahul Mudumba 2024-05-19 Tambee was fantastic, and made sure I had an incredible trip! Filippo Volpato 2024-05-18 Tambee was the most exquisite guide we could have ever wanted. Always attentive, extremely knowledgeable and open to adjust the itinerary based on your interests (expect surprises for you!). Hopefully we will be back to this beautiful country, that Tambee made us fall in love with. Michael Van Arragon 2024-05-18 Ask for Tambee! There is so much to learn about the history and future of our shared humanity in this important and beautiful country. I travelled 10 days across a large part of Syria and wish I could've stayed. Tambee who emphasizes the "intangible" is a talented and enthusiastic story teller with an amazing personal connection to the people and culture. He will help you come away with a big picture appreciation of everything youre seeing and with a specialist's attention to detail; help you deepen your own sense of what is happening today in the region. These are some seriously friendly people- a visit to Syria like this one is so special.
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Ayoub Al Smadi
Ayoub boasts over five years of tour guiding and tour operator expertise. he has a master’s degree in planning and managing sustainable tourism development, and his cheerful, vibrant personality makes every moment with him fly by unnoticed.
