Unraveling Tradition: discovering the story behind Palestinian keffiyehs
This lesson is designed to be taught to primary school aged students. It is about the significance and history of the keffiyeh, which, has become an important part of Palestinian identity and symbol of Palestinian resistance. While this lesson links specifically to the Australian and Victorian Curriculum for levels 3 and 4 it has been designed so that it can easily be adjusted for older or younger students. Some slides may be omitted depending on time constraints.
Curriculum Links | |
Victorian Curriculum (level 3 and 4) Geography | Types of natural vegetation and the significance of vegetation to the environment, the importance of environments to animals and people, and different views on how they can be protected; the use and management of natural resources and waste, and different views on how to do this sustainably (VCGGK082) Similarities and differences in individuals’ and groups’ feelings and perceptions about places, and how they influence views about the protection of these places (VCGGK083) Similarities and differences between places in terms of their type of settlement, demographic characteristics and the lives of the people who live there (VCGGK084) |
Australian Curriculum (level 3 and 4) | The importance of symbols and emblems to identity and diversity (AC9HS3K03) Pose questions to investigate people, events, places and issues that address identified disciplinary concepts (AC9HS4S01) The diversity of cultural, religious and/or social groups to which they and others in the community belong and their importance to identity (AC9HS4K10 |
The hatta and the egal are important parts of traditional dress for Palestinians. The hatta is a large square of cotton cloth that is folded into a triangle shaped and worn over the head. The egal are the two circular black bands that keep the hatta in place on the head.
People have been wearing hattas for hundreds of years, people who lived in the desert or were farmers in the countryside used the hatta to protect them from the sun, sand, wind and cold.
Palestinian Boy 1920s
Egyptian Boy 1920s
Bedouin people, as well as people who live around Jordan and the Gulf traditionally wear a red and white hatta, with a checked pattern. Traditionally Bedouin people travelled through the desert with their families and their animals including goats and sheep.
In Jordan, the red and white hatta is sometimes called a shemagh. The colours of Jordan are red and white, just like in the shemagh. Red stands for bravery and power, while white means knowledge, unity, and kindness. People wear the red shemagh at big celebrations and holidays, showing how proud they are to be Jordanian.
A traditional Bedouin tent
The most famous kind of hatta in Palestine is called the keffiyeh.
The keffiyeh has a very special meaning for Palestinian people. Many people read the history of Palestine in the design of the keffiyeh.
The big, bold lines around the edge of the keffiyeh can symbolise the trade routes that go through Palestine and which helped to make Palestine such a richly diverse place.
People believe that the wavy shapes on the inner border represent olive tree branches. Native olive trees are important to Palestinian people and symbolise their relationship to the land as its indigenous people.
This painting is called Picking Olives and was painted by a Palestinian artist called Sliman Mansour in 1988
A grove of ancient Palestinian olive trees.
The cross over pattern in the middle of keffiyeh represents fishnets. These fishnets celebrate Palestinians' relationship to the sea, since fishing is such an important part of Palestinian life, especially in Port cities such as Haifa and Yaffa. These are also a symbol of hope for Palestinian people living in the West Bank, hope that they will one day again be able to return to the Mediterranean sea.
Palestinian fishermen with nets
This painting is called Fisher and was painted by Sliman Mansour in 2016
Palestinian fishermen at the Sea of Galilee
About 70% of Palestinian people are no longer able to live in their homes. Despite this, Palestinian people still value and treasure the Palestinian land. A famous Palestinian poet called Mahmoud Darwish said that Palestinian people carry the land in their blood. The keffiyeh also helps Palestinians and others remember the importance of Palestine, the native olive trees and the seas filled with fish.
Gaza, 2020 by Mohammed Zaanoun
Perseverance, by Sliman Mansour
1930s
1936 - 1939
In 1938 During the Arab Revolt against the British occupation of Palestine, resistance leaders asked that all people living in Palestinian cities wear the keffiyeh allowing them to blend in with the rest of the population and making it difficult for the British to identify them.
1967 - 1993
The Israeli military makes it illegal to display the Palestinian flag in Gaza and the West Bank. The keffiyeh became a symbol of Palestinian identity, like a flag..
1960s-90s
1987 - 1991
The keffiyeh becomes an important part of the ‘uniform” of Palestinians fighting in the First Intifada or ‘uprising’ against Israeli occupation.
1980s -90s
A Keffiyeh Timeline
Leila Khaled is a brave Palestinian woman who became famous for her courage and determination to fight for her people’s rights in the 1970s. Although it was traditionally worn by men, Leila encouraged Palestinian women to wear the keffiyeh. This led to the keffiyeh becoming a symbol of togetherness and strength for all people who supported Palestine, no matter their age, background or gender.
Leila still wears a keffiyeh and is still talking to people around the world about the Palestinian people’s struggle.
Yasser Arafat (1929-2004) was a leader who wanted to help his people, the Palestinians, have their own country. He always wore a keffiyeh. He worked hard to talk to other leaders and find peace for his people. When he put his keffiyeh on he would arrange one side of it to look like a map of Palestine! He helped make the keffiyeh even more popular.
A keffiyeh is not just a scarf, or a headdress. It is a special symbol of togetherness and support. People wear keffiyehs to show that they stand united with Palestinians who want freedom and peace, like a big team! Wearing a keffiyeh is like saying “We’re in this together!”
Symbolising your Identity
In small groups, discuss and then draw a graphic representation of what identifies you.
What is important to you about where you are from, and who you are?
Negotiate with each other about:
Conclusion/discussion
Present your visual representations to the class.
Explain the symbolism behind your work, and how you came to decide on it.
Have a discussion about the different interpretations of keffiyeh design and what it reveals about:
Reflections
Watch the video “Because of Us”, by Em Berry and think about what it means in terms of what you have learned about Palestine by studying the keffiyeh.
What do the words gauze and Gaza have to do with each other?
Sources:
Geography (Version 8.4) | The Australian Curriculum (Version 8.4)
Geography - Curriculum - Victorian Curriculum (vcaa.vic.edu.au)
Raise the Keffiyeh, the unofficial flag of Palestine (newarab.com)
https://collectionguides.universiteitleiden.nl/resources/ubl674
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/matpc/