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(The Saudi Gazette), 28
February 2006 – One
Century old Saudi toys and games, were displayed at the women’s Janadriya
Heritage and Folklore annual festival.
For the ninth year, Amal
Al-Jandal a Saudi toy and game folklore expert, has participated with a
tent displaying ancient wooden toys.
Modern toys have made our
children lazy and uncreative, said Jandal. Children today have everything
made for them, they just have to press a button and the games starts. But
50 years ago they had to make their own toys, explained Jandal. This forced
them to become creative.
Jandal who holds a BA in
Home Economics became a Saudi toy and game folklore expert after doing an
intensive research on the topic. I have always been interested in the Saudi
heritage, explained Jandal. And I love children, so by combining the two I
found a new passion.
At first she had trouble
finding literature on the topic. I went all over the kingdom researching
libraries and museums but couldn t find anything. explained Jandal. She had
to resort to conducting her own research by talking to elderly women,
taking notes and recording the rhymes. She has currently written two short
books on Saudi toys and games which were published by the National Guard
for the Janadriya festival.
Girls toys tended to be
faceless dolls made out of old rags and many rhyming and clapping games the
boys toys tended to be made out of wood and string.
She also noticed regional
differences between the toys. Najd region, which is the central region of
Saudi Arabia focused on boys toys more than girls . While the Hail region
in the north had the most variety of toys.
Visitors to our tent
witnessed the daily lives of Saudi children practiced hundred of years ago.
explained Jandal.
They are welcomed at the
tent entrance by Saudi girls wearing their traditional dress chanting
ancient rhymes while playing clapping games and dancing steps. Upon
entering the black goat tent,
they watch boys playing with wooden and string toys and girls helping their
mothers with the daily chores weaving baskets and grinding wheat.
Although the toys were a
hundred years old, the children in the tent were having lots of fun playing
with them. The kids love participating in the toys tent every year. said
Jandal.
More info on:
Janadriya Village
A
View of Kingdom's heritage
King Abdulaziz Center for
National Dialogue
King Abdulaziz Foundation
for Research and Archives
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