Preserving the Past for the Future  FarahRihani-9C

Outline

Title: Preserving the Past for the Future

I.                These measures fall into the cultural, educational and financial domains.

II.             

A.                       To begin with, countries can preserve ancestors’ heritage by adhering to age-old customs and traditions, like ancient garments, certain dances or popular foods.

1.                    dressing in the Indian saree

2.                    wearing the dishdasha in the Arab Gulf region

B.                        On an educational basis, it is necessary to teach pupils and assign apprentices to learn arts, crafts, and skills for manufacturing items that facilitated life in the past.

1.                    giving craft courses in Greece

2.                    applying for online courses in handicrafts

III.        As a conclusion, cultural, educational and financial procedures act as guardians of a country’s cultural heritage.

“Handicrafts are the transmission of feelings one has experienced.” is a quote alluding handicrafts main role as a creative outlet typically expressing one’s artistry and imagination. Due to that and many other factors of great significance, countries have attempted to preserve their cultural heritage embodied in artifacts and handicrafts by taking some procedures. These measures fall into the cultural and educational domains.

To begin with, countries can preserve ancestors’ heritage by adhering to age-old customs and traditions, like ancient garments, certain dances or popular foods. Indian culture has stood the test of time by remaining diverse, colorful and spiritual. Although there are variations in customs based on local needs and influences, there is an underlying basic factor keeping the whole of India together, which is their traditional saree. The various patterns and colors of the saree depicted beliefs, virtues, and the region the person came from. It has thus been a subject of great inspiration and appreciation for worldwide costume connoisseurs who have attempted to fathom its historical continuance throughout thousands of years of modifications, invasions, migration, and globalization, record its traditions which go from generation to another and unveil the intricacies which lie in the making of a saree and its art and aesthetics. The history of the Indian saree is certainly full of tradition, pride, and innovation, so it is an obligation to wear in some official jobs. Today, the wearing of the saree says much of its versatility and durability, and is, to India, a representation of the culture of the civilization in older times and their way of life. The Middle East is, also, a variegated universe when it comes to attires for both men and women. It is a complex reality where local traditions and Western fashion mix. While the latter has deeply influenced Arab countries, it is still possible to spot some traditional garments. The thobe, also known as dishdasha, worn by men in the Arabian Gulf region, allegedly to show one’s pride of his roots, is a prominent example. The long, shirt-like, usually white garment goes down to the ankles, is long sleeved and typically worn with a shemagh and egal.

On an educational basis, it is necessary to teach pupils and assign apprentices to learn arts, crafts, and skills for manufacturing items that facilitated life in the past. In the Greek city of Erdek, the course “Decorative Glue Flowers and Home Accessories” provided by Erdek Public Education Center is one of the courses in the handicrafts branch, lasting three and half months. It is mostly joined by women living in the area and is a real opportunity to learn, share ideas, apply and discover new techniques. The trainees attending the course are happy to work as a well-organized team, to learn new things and socialize as they create decorative flowers using glue, starch, flour, and glycerin. Besides, the trainees have made needlework, jewelry designs, products from felt materials, decorative children's pillows, antique embroidered cushions, bags, and waistcoats. If one’s not lucky enough to find a handicraft course locally, such programs are available on the internet, as well. The US-based online learning website, SkillShare, includes a category specifically for crafts, where novices can learn to weave wall hangings, create boutonnieres and corsages, make paper from recycled materials, practice needlework and carve wooden items in detailed lessons explained by certified professionals.

As a conclusion, cultural and educational procedures act as guardians of a country’s cultural heritage. Resultantly, they are indispensable in the modern world where people seem to disregard their roots and customs, absorbed into the monoculture of globalized materialistic business.