The document provides an overview of Syrian culture and customs. It discusses Syria's geography, history, ethnic groups, religions, traditions, hospitality practices, cuisine, gestures, and dos and don'ts. Key points include that Syria sits at a crossroads between Africa, Asia and Europe, has a long history dating back many centuries, has a population that is 74% Sunni Arab and various other religious and ethnic groups, places importance on family, religion and respecting traditions, and values hospitality and polite social interactions.

1. Slide 1
The study shows that to learn a language you
need to learn about the culture of the target
language also It has been emphasized that
without the study of culture,teaching L2 is
inaccurate and incomplete. for this reason we
are gonna learn about Syria’s culture. And I
chose Syria for 2 reasons, first because I am
from, and second because of what is going on in
Syria some of our solders might needed there so
this can help then be prepared and know what
to expect.

2. Slide 2
Syria is an important and influential country in the
Middle East—it sits at the juncture of Africa, Asia, and
Europe. Syria’s geography includes deserts, plains, a
rich coastal region, and mountains. The country’s
northwestern corner runs along the Mediterranean
Sea. Syria covers an area of almost 71 thounsand
square miles. Most of southeastern Syria is rocky
desert.
Turkey borders Syria to the north, Jordan to the south,
and Lebanon and Israel (including the disputed Golan
Heights) to the southwest. Iraq lies to the east and
southeast.

3. Slide 3
• History:
• “Syria’s history dates back many centuries .In
ancient times, Syrian territory was much
larger than today it included modern
Lebanon, most of present-day Israel and
Jordan, and part of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

4. Slide 4:
• Ethnic Groups:
• Syria’s population includes various religious and
ethnic communities.
• The country’s 19 million people are divided into Sunni
Arabs (74 percent), Alawis (12 percent), Christians (10
percent), Kurds (9 percent), Druze (3 percent),
Bedouin, Ismailis, Turcomans, Circassians, and
Assyrians.
• Syrians are a blend of the Syriac groups and ethnic
Greeks who lived in the region. Non-Arabic groups,
such as Kurds, also make up part of the population

5. Slide 5:
• Religion group
• The Alawis, originally a branch of Shi’a Islam, but they celebrate certain
Christian holidays different than the islam ones, such as Christmas and
Easter. they have no religious buildings, preferring to meet in private
residences. Members of the al-Assad regime belong to the Alawi
Muslim sect, and thus this sect has been extremely powerful in Syria
since 1971, when the country first came under Alawi leadership
• The religion of the Druze originated from Shi’a Islam but is not
recognized by many Muslims,
• Christians make up about 10% of the population and belong to various
sects, including the Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Syrian Orthodox,
Chaldean, Maronite, Protestant, and Roman Catholic churches.
• There is very small Jewish communities in Syria
• Some Kurds living near the Iraqi border follow a religion known as
Yezidism,

6. Slide 6
• Religion is important in the daily lives of
Syrians. There are mosques throughout the
country, and they are well attended.
Churches, including Protestant, Catholic, and
Anglican, are also well attended.

7. Slide 7
• TRADITIONS:
• Syria is a culture heavily influenced by its traditions. A
few of the traditions passed down through the years
include: cuisine, folklore dance, and festivals.
• “Syria has a long cultural tradition. In general, Syrians
place a high value on family, religion, education, self-
discipline, and respect. Although Syrians tend to value
identification with their religion, because the majority
of the country are Sunni Muslims, strong feelings
toward cultural unity also exist.”

8. Slide 7
continue
• Dress:
• Clothing styles for Syrian people vary according
to region or ethnic background. Women in rural
areas may wear decorations on their dresses,
and men may wear long robes and head wraps.
In the cities, clothing styles are more modern.
Men in urban areas may dress in robes, or they
may wear Western-style clothing, including
jackets, sweaters, or pants

9. Slide 7
continue
• Weddings:
• For Muslims and Christians, some traditions vary and some are similar. Syrians
are identified by their family ties and not by their religion. Whether Christian or
Muslim.
• The Christian Wedding
• It is common for Christians to marry in a church. Friends and relatives are invited
to the wedding ceremony. After the wedding ceremony, friends and family
gather, along with the bride and groom, at a reception
• Muslim wedding
• Muslims do not marry in a mosque. Instead, an imam(the person who leads
prayers in a mosque) meets with all parties, including the parents. This meeting
usually takes place in the imam’s office or at the home of the future groom, and
at this time the marriage contracts are reviewed to make sure they are valid.
Particular suras (chapters) or ayat (verses) from the Quran are recited. The
documents legalizing the marriage are signed. The prospective bride and groom
return separately to their respective homes. The next day there are separate
parties for the men and the women.

10. Slide 8:
• Hospitality:
• Syrians are very friendly and hospitable to visitors.
Interactions between people almost always begin
with polite greetings and inquiries into each other’s
health or their family’s health.
• In most homes, Muslim or Christian, it is common
social practice that men and women gather
separately. They will then meet at the table, and the
host will welcome guests with a toast, typically
accompanied by a nonalcoholic drink. The guest
should respond with a toast, wishing good health to
the host and his family

11. Slide 8:
continue
Cuisine:
• Syria’s multicultural past is evident in its cuisine. Syrian
cuisine is tasty and often combines European dishes with
Eastern spices or adapts foods from other cultures. For
example, a traditional pastry called batlawa, similar to the
Greek baklava, has a French influence.
• When the meal begins, guests should accept as much food as
possible. Saying “no thanks” can be seen as offensive to the
host. The more the guests eat the happier the host be.
• The Arabic expression ahlan wa-sahlan means “welcome,”
and the host will probably repeat this phrase several times
during the visit.

12. Slide 9
Gestures:
• Certain gestures carry a lot of meaning. Here are
some of the gestures that can help you understand
the full message being communicated.
• An outstretched hand and click of the wrist means
“What do you want?”
• Raised eyebrows and a slight sudden tilt back of the
head means “no.” Making the same gesture with a click
of the tongue means “no” as well.
• All five fingers pointing upward means wait. But same
gesture with going up and down with your fingers
several times means “wait I will get you”

13. Slide 9Gestures:
• Tap your hand on your head several times means “on my head”
• Same thing you can do with eyes and with one finger pointing to
your eye or your both eyes and say “on my eye” when pointing to
both eyes and say “from this eye before this eye”
• To dare or bet on something you touch your chin with you hand
and say “hay daqnee”.
• • If an official motions as if to draw a line on his left palm, he
wants to examine your documents.
• Using your both hands almost to clap means “No more”
• • Placing the right palm on the chest with a slight bow of the head
and closing the eyes means “Thank you.”
• Don’t make the “A-OK” signal (circle with index finger and thumb
of one hand); this gesture may be misinterpreted as obscene.
• Both hands with all fingers pointing to your head means I can’t do
this no more or forget about it

14. Dos and Don’ts:
• Do use your entire right hand only to call a person. Keep your palm down and
wave downward.
• Do keep your feet down and your soles on the ground.
• Do, if you are a man, stand when a woman enters the room.
• Do stand when new guests arrive at a social gathering or when an elderly or high-
ranking official enters the room.
• Don’t call women if you are a male soldier! Let a female soldier do that.
• Don’t use the Western way of beckoning with one finger. It is very offensive.
• Don’t point to anybody with a finger; use the entire right hand instead.
• Don’t make the “A-OK” signal (circle with index finger and thumb of one hand);
this gesture may be misinterpreted as obscene.
• Don’t point upward with the middle finger. It is obscene in the U.S. and equally
so in Syria.
• Don’t use obscene or indecent language within earshot of Syrian citizens. Many
are familiar with American slang.
• Don’t cross your legs when sitting in a chair or show the bottom of your feet to
someone.
• Don’t lean against a wall when speaking with another person.