Syria

The Block

Damascus, Syria’s capital, has been famous for the quality of its woven textiles known as damask since the Middle Ages. The backdrop of this block is antique damask, a fabric that, while normally made from silk, can also be made from wool, linen or cotton. The tightly woven, white-on-white cloth features a reversible floral pattern of satin weave on a matte background. Damasks traditionally consist of tone-on-tone colours, sometimes with the addition of gold or silver thread, and are generally used for tablecloths, napkins, towels, and wall or furniture coverings.

Blockmakers Norma and Michael Moussa added a three-dimensional cezve( the long-handled coffee pot used to make Turkish coffee) set upon a replicated brass tray, to serve as the main element of the block’s inner circle. Serving Turkish coffee, which is sometimes flavoured with cardamom, is an elaborate process and one that plays an important role in Syrian lifestyle and culture. Prospective brides are still expected to make and serve coffee to the parents of their intended as a test of their housekeeping skills, and fal, reading the future from leftover coffee grounds, is a social activity enjoyed by many Syrians.

The cezve is surrounded by richly embroidered wheat and olive plants. Wheat is a primary crop in Syria which also ranks sixth worldwide in olive production. It is believed to be the original home of the olive tree. Elaborate gold and silver embroidery framing the inner circle is typical of the traditional needlework found on tablecloths and other household linens.

Cultural Profile

Syria, in south-west Asia, is part of an area known as the Levant. The word levant derives from the French lever, meaning ‘to rise’, and refers to the country’s location on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a geographically mixed land with hot deserts, coastal greenery, the snow-capped mountains of the Jabal al-Nusayriya, and the warm Mediterranean Sea. Syria is a country of contrasts where modern life coexists alongside ancient architecture and Crusader castles. Damascus is said to be the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. There are numerous archeological sites in the country, dating back to Aramean, Phoenician, Greek and Roman civilizations. Since the Middle Age, Christian crusaders and the Ottomans have also left behind important monuments. The majority of Syria’s population is Arab, with smaller group of Kurds, Turkmens, Circassians, Greeks and Armenians, giving the country a variety of ethnic and religious groups rarely seen in the Middle East. The official language is Arabic and although the written form of the language is the same as that of other Arabic-speaking nations, the spoken form differs.

Syrians place great value on both the youngest and oldest members of their families. Having children is very important, but the elderly are also treated with great respect. Syrian men have a strong sense of individual and family honour that is known as ird and hospitality forms part of the foundation of Arab life. It is not uncommon for Syrians––particularly desert-dwellers––to welcome strangers into their homes for food and drink.

Syria has a rich literary tradition and public poetry reading is still a respected part of the culture. The country enjoys two types of music: traditional which uses Arabic instruments such as the oud, and modern which uses a European-style orchestra, lead vocalist and chorus.

National handcrafts include gold and silver filigree jewelry, glass blowing and marquetry, a woodworking technique in which small pieces of differently coloured wood are used to create complicated patterns on boxes, trays and furniture. Syria is reknown for damascene steel, a difficult art form once used to make flexible swords and knives, and now a process many present-day craftspeople world-wide still try to replicate.

Syrians have been coming to Canada since 1882 with the largest numbers arriving between 1955 and 1975. They have settled across the nation in Ontario, Québec, the Maritimes, the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia and, have contributed to Canadian society in a number of areas, including in the field of music and cuisine. The country’s most famous musician of Syrian decent is undoubtedly Paul Anka.

Sponsor: Anne Arajs