بتير: old wedding

This picture was taken for a Palestinian “dabkah” (men’s traditional dance) performed at Ain Street at Battir village in winter of 1951. Such Palestinian dabkahs have been known in Palestine for centuries; inherited by grandfathers from forefathers. The grandeur of this performance is clearly done at its best on the rhythm of the sound of men’s feet simultaneously hitting ground in harmony with the sound of flute, playing in spontaneity the popular Palestinian lyrics of Dal’ounah, ‘Atabah and Thareef-el-Toul. The words of lyrics are inspired from the fascinating rural environment and life circumstances of Palestinian countryside. Apparently, the movement of the dancers’ legs implies the tunes of Ya-Tharif-el-Toul type of lyric “O nice tall, young man”, which usually begins with these lovely passionate lines:

”O nice tall, young man! Stop, wanna tell you.
Leaving out-of-country! Homeland is better for you
I fear, O love, you go and hang out there,
And socialize with others and forget me.”