Keffiyeh; a symbol of Palestinian nationalism

The keffiyeh/kufiya (Arabic: كوفية‎, kūfiyyah, plural كوفيات, kūfiyyāt), also known as a ghutrah (غترة), ḥaṭṭah (حطّة), mashadah (مشدة) , shemagh (شماغ) or inPersian chafiye (چفیه), and Turkish puşi, is a traditional headdress typically worn by Arab and Kurdish men fashioned from a square, usually cotton, scarf. It is commonly found in arid regions to provide protection from direct sun exposure, as well to protect the mouth and eyes from blown dust and sand. Its distinctive woven check pattern may have originated in an ancient Mesopotamian representation of either fishing nets or ears of grain. 

I have always been inspired by this Arab headdress ... Its a symbol of Arabs.

The keffiyeh became a symbol of Palestinian nationalism during the Arab Revolt of the 1930s. Its prominence increased in the 1960s with the beginning of the Palestinian resistance movement and its adoption by Palestinian politician Yasser Arafat.

Haneef trying it out 

The keffiyeh would later become a trademark symbol of Arafat, who was rarely seen without a distinctively-arranged black-and-white scarf. Arafat would wear his keffiyeh in semi-traditional way, around the head and wrapped by an agal. He also wore a similarly patterned piece of cloth in the neckline of his military fatigues. Early on, he had made it his personal trademark to drape the scarf over his right shoulder only, arranging it in the rough shape of a triangle, to resemble the outlines of the territory claimed by Palestine. This way of wearing the keffiyeh became a symbol of Arafat as a person and political leader, and it has not been imitated by other Palestinian leaders.

So here I was ... Early this year I got my self a Keffiyeh and tried it out. To be frank it really felt AWESOME!!! There are many ways one can wrap a Keffiyeh ... here are some pictures of myself and Haneef trying it out !!! 

I support the Independence movement of Palestine !!! They have a right of self governance and they have a right to Jerusalem !!! Israeli aggression need to come to an end !!!

How you do it??

·  Fold the keffiyeh in half diagonally so you get a big triangle, then drape it over the top of your head. The three points should be over each shoulder and down the back. Leave as much or as little hanging over your forehead as you desire. You can stop now and place an agal, or rope circlet, over your keffiyeh to hold it in place. Let it drape over your back, neck and shoulder. Or, fold it back up over the agal to drape down the back.

·  Hold the fabric over your ear for a full wrap and wrap that side in front of your face, then around your head and back again to tuck it into itself. Take the other side and do the same thing, but go down under your chin instead. Continue around and tuck it into itself the same way.

·  Take the other side and do the same thing, but go down under your chin instead. Continue around and tuck it into itself the same way. You now have a head wrap that is adjustable to protect your head and face from blowing sand and dust.

Read more: How to Wrap a Keffiyeh | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2283877_wrap-keffiyeh.html#ixzz18Ks6vkzI


Information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia