Mansour Bin Muhammad, Abdullah Al-Faqeeh and Yahya Al-Feefi Okaz/Saudi Gazette
FOR a large number of villagers, especially Bedouins, winter is a season to enliven their rich traditions that they have inherited from their ancestors. They view winter as a golden opportunity to practice these traditional customs and pass them on to the younger generation. People of Aqeeq governorate in southern Baha region have held on to their traditions for generations. And with the region witnessing a good winter, families were able to practice one such tradition. The tradition involves taking their families, relatives and friends out to an open area or meadow where they collect firewood and prepare dinner for their guests. Afterward, they spend the night sharing childhood memories and other memorable events that occurred during their lives. As for shepherds, they set out in search of pastures and move from valley to valley, herding their livestock. Despite the cold weather, they enjoy the beauty of nature, spending the night in open air, lighting fires and preparing food. Ayed Bin Saad, a resident of Aqeeq, said Bedouins are well known for their hospitality on such occasions. The head of the family shoulders all the responsibility to entertain both the guests and family. He takes command in cooking traditional food and serving it to his guests and family members. He takes family members and guests to picturesque places where he starts collecting firewood from the Qarad (genus acacia) tree, which is famous for its thick embers. He then slaughters a goat and prepares its meat after fastening the carcass to branches of trees. The fresh meat is typically ready for grilling before sunset. Then, he takes the lead in serving guests with camel milk as it is a favorite during the winter. Saad Al-Owaid said he enjoys spending nights in the valleys of Aqeeq even in the biting cold weather. “We gather around a fireplace until we are warm. We also take advantage of the heat of car engines. Villagers set out to picnic in an open place where children listen to stories narrated by elders. The elders tell stories that contain some moral lessons with the intention of making desirable behavioral changes,” he said. Greenery of Qunfudah Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and snowfall is one of the attractive and rare features of winter season in the Kingdom. Recently, the southern and northern regions of the Kingdom received rainfall and a cold snap together. This attracted a huge number of picnickers to tourist destinations in these regions, particularly in Tabuk. But the rain was not accompanied by snowfall in the western region of Saudi Arabia, especially Qunfudah. However, at present, a large number of picnickers are flocking to Qunfudah, thanks to its greenery and picturesque valleys. Ahmed Al-Mabahi, a resident of Qunfudah, said he can't remember the last time the governorate and its villages received so much rain. “This was instrumental in transforming most areas in the region into greeneries and meadows. As a result, a huge number of visitors from various parts of the region, and beyond, are flocking to these picturesque places.” Picnickers from neighboring Gulf countries are even flocking to the region to enjoy the pleasant weather and natural beauty. Muhammad Al-Anzi and Ali Jaafar said they came from a nearby Gulf state to spend their holidays in Jeddah. “We headed to Qunfudah after we came to know about its wonders following the recent rains. We were delighted to see so much greenery on both sides of the coastal expressway, where we also saw several tents erected by picnickers,” one of them said. Muhammad Saeed came from Riyadh and Ahmed Asiri and Ibrahim Al-Qahtani from Sarrat Obaida to enjoy the beauty of Qunfudah. Fada Al-Baqami, governor of Qunfudah, said that the region is witnessing an unprecedented flow of tourists and visitors seeking to enjoy the pleasant weather. “The authorities are geared to entertain them and make transportation, food and accommodation available at reasonable rates.” In biting cold, Dhala' gives warmth When the highlands of southern Asir region experience extreme cold weather, people from Abha, Khamis Mushayt and other regions along the Sarawat Mountain ranges flock to Dhala' mountain pass and its valleys in Tihama Asir in search of warm and pleasant weather, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Ahmed Farhan, a citizen, said he took his family members, some friends and relatives to Dhala' for an outing that became a shared memory for all. “We distribute tasks such as collecting firewood, making coffee, cooking food and the like in the traditional way without using cooking gas or electricity. After preparing and eating dinner, we spend the rest of the time chatting and sharing experiences. “We also engage in various sporting activities and allow children to play all sorts of games. We are also wary of avoiding any casualties, especially in the event of unexpected rains and flashfloods. In case of any such incident in a locality, the picnickers alert others to take precautions and stay away from flood passages,” Farhan said.
