Tunisia is an Islamic country, and although it is probably one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East, people do tend to dress more conservatively than in Europe. Tunisian women all over the country don't always wear headscarves, and most dress stylishly in the latest fashions...but you rarely see a Tunisian woman revealing much flesh. Shorts and short skirts are not worn, neither are low-cut sleeveless tops. For men, again shorts are not the norm, unless you are doing sport. Tunisian men don't walk around town bare chested either. Have a look around you when you arrive, see what locals are wearing and do the same. There's no need to go over the top and cover every part of your body in multiple layers...this is not Iran! But if you dress modestly, nobody will find it offensive, and women will find the amount of hassle decreases dramatically.
Of course, the beach is different, and nobody expects you to cover up on the sands. Even some resorts are used to sunbathing foreigners walking around wearing very little...just when you go into town, put some clothes on!
Tunisia in the holiday brochures always looks sunny and hot, but don't underestimate just how cold Tunisia can get in winter and even spring. I was unprepared for snow in March in the region around Le Kef, and it was cold and wet in tunis in April...it may not be as cold as parts of Europe, but buildings often don't have adequate heating so it can be very hard to get warm! Bring some warm clothing for the colder months, and an umbrella may also be useful. Although the desert regions are still warm in winter during the day, the temperature drops quite dramatically at night.
Traditional clothing in Tunisia is still worn by many older Tunisians. Old men still like to wear their red chechia hats (similar to a fez), often with a burnoos (a sort of cloak with a hood) around their shoulders. You'll see many women around wrapped up in white shawls, sometimes held in place by their teeth. This is the sifsari, similar to Sudan's tobe and India's sari.
Local Customs: Tunisian Hospitality
I was glad to see that hospitality is alive and well in Tunisia...although it may seem in the tourist resorts that everyone is out to get your money or sell you something, away from these areas people are generally very friendly. I noticed this more in Le Kef than in anywhere else, but maybe that was just my experience, as I'm sure other towns are equally as friendly. Everywhere I went in Le Kef, people wanted to talk to me. Everytime I sat in a cafe, people came up to me to chat and insisted on buying my coffee. Some went out of their way to show me places I wouldn't have discovered had I been on my own. To cap it all off, my friend Yasser insisted I travel with him to Gabes and stay with him and his housemates. Even though Gabes was not on my list of must-see destinations, it was a great opportunity to get to know some Tunisians and was one of the more memorable moments on my trip.
While there will always be some who get to know you for other motives (money, sex, visas), usually it doesn't take long to work that out, and just remember that that can happen in almost any country. So don't be shy...if a Tunisian talks to you, talk back!
lundi 9 mai 2011
islam in tunisia
Islam is the official state religion in Tunisia. Approximately 98 percent of the population of Tunisia is nominally Muslim. Most of them are Sunni belonging to the Malikite madhhab, but a small number of Ibadhi Muslims (Kharijites) still exist among the Berber-speakers of Jerba Island. There is no reliable data on the number of practicing Muslims. There is a small indigenous Sufi Muslim community; however, there are no statistics regarding its size. Reliable sources report that many Sufis left the country shortly after independence when their religious buildings and land reverted to the Government (as did those of Orthodox Islamic foundations). Although the Sufi community is small, its tradition of mysticism permeates the practice of Islam throughout the country. During annual Ramadan festivals, Sufis provide public cultural entertainment by performing religious dances. The Constitution declares Islam the official state religion and stipulates that the President must be a Muslim.
The government controls and subsidizes mosques and pays the salaries of prayer leaders. The President appoints the Grand Mufti of the Republic. The 1988 Law on Mosques provides that only personnel appointed by the Government may lead activities in mosques and stipulates that mosques must remain closed except during prayer times and other authorized religious ceremonies, such as marriages or funerals. Police stations will often be found near mosques.[1]. Some people maybe interrogated just for associating or being seen in the street with practising Muslims. New mosques may be built in accordance with national urban planning regulations; however, upon completion, they become the property of the Government. The Government also partially subsidizes the Jewish community.
The following religious holidays are considered national holidays: Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ras Al-Am El-Hejri, and Mawlid. The Government also recognizes the sanctity of non-Muslim religious holidays.
The Mosquée Ennasr mosque in Ariana has a futurist architectureIslamic religious education is mandatory in public schools, but the religious curriculum for secondary school students also includes the history of Judaism and Christianity. The Zeitouna Koranic School is part of the Government's national university system.
Generally, Shari'a-based interpretation of civil law is applied only in some family cases. Some families avoid the effects of Shari'a on inheritance by executing sales contracts between parents and children to ensure that sons and daughters receive equal shares of property.
According to the State Department's 2004 International Religious Freedom Report, referenced below, there were some reports that the Government did not allow married, interfaith couples to register the birth of their children. In these cases, couples were denied birth certificates if the mother was Christian and the father was Muslim and the parents tried to give their children non-Arabic names.
The government controls and subsidizes mosques and pays the salaries of prayer leaders. The President appoints the Grand Mufti of the Republic. The 1988 Law on Mosques provides that only personnel appointed by the Government may lead activities in mosques and stipulates that mosques must remain closed except during prayer times and other authorized religious ceremonies, such as marriages or funerals. Police stations will often be found near mosques.[1]. Some people maybe interrogated just for associating or being seen in the street with practising Muslims. New mosques may be built in accordance with national urban planning regulations; however, upon completion, they become the property of the Government. The Government also partially subsidizes the Jewish community.
The following religious holidays are considered national holidays: Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ras Al-Am El-Hejri, and Mawlid. The Government also recognizes the sanctity of non-Muslim religious holidays.
Generally, Shari'a-based interpretation of civil law is applied only in some family cases. Some families avoid the effects of Shari'a on inheritance by executing sales contracts between parents and children to ensure that sons and daughters receive equal shares of property.
According to the State Department's 2004 International Religious Freedom Report, referenced below, there were some reports that the Government did not allow married, interfaith couples to register the birth of their children. In these cases, couples were denied birth certificates if the mother was Christian and the father was Muslim and the parents tried to give their children non-Arabic names.
tourism in tunisia
Tunisia, being in the Mediterranean has since been trying hard enough to set itself as a high class world recognized tourist destination. This tunisia tourism travel guide will impart valuable information on your much intended and wished for journey to the most rated and important tourist destination in this beautiful land. You will discover many faces that the country has for you including the multifaceted Tunisian beaches, towns, Medina, Monuments, oasis, golf, sports and conference rooms, parks of entertainment, thalasso and casinos among many other interesting venues. Here, you are just about to access a complete database about hotels, travel agencies, car rent agencies, restaurants... We will help you organise your trip and make your tunisia holidays even more enjoyable.
In Tunisia everything is possible because in a matter of minutes, you could be sun - bathing on the warm golden sands of the Mediterranean beach while the next minute you could get yourself on a camel trekking the Sahara. We are unable to say how much thrill and enjoyment you will get ranging from the deluxe thalassotherapy sessions to the premium still surviving Roman ruins and antique is Tunisia.
Adventure in Tunisia
Lezard Rouge
The country's culture, art, lifestyle, beauty are not the only things that make Tunisia an amazing place. The old fashioned … [Read More...]
Tunisia Festivals
Tunisian Jazz
Tunisian Jazz Actually, Tabarka has to host every year two kinds of festivals: the first is the Jazz Festival which takes place … [Read More...]
Shopping in Tunisia
Shopping in Tunisia
If you are in Tunisia, then you are most likely to go past people with the colourful markets that are full of stuff that is … [Read More...]
Spa Treatments
Hot stone massage
This includes the use of heated smooth stones which are then placed on certain point on the body. This will definitely loosen … [Read More...]
Tunisia Sports
Water sports
Many hotels and resorts are located in Tunisia. While enjoying your stay at Tunisia, try out several water sports such as diving, … [Read More...]
Tunisia Culture
Tunis Important Museums: Overview
In Tunis, the eponymous capital, you can visit the mosque Zitouna, free access. The mosqie Zitouna is a World Heritage Site, … [Read More...]
Featured Destinations
Casinos
Casinos are located in Sousse, Yasmine Hammamet, Tunis and Djerba. Casino Caribe in Sousse and the Cleopatra in Hammamet are the two largest among these. Everything from poker tables, blackjack and roulette, to luxurious restaurants plus bars with live entertainment are present. There is a dress code at this nightclub. … [Read More...]
Cocoloco
Cocoloco, situated in "Yasmine Hammamet", is easily the biggest disco in Tunisia and it fills over 4000 in its two floors. There is also a great restaurant that specializes in Mediterranean dishes. It is served up with great music all night long. … [Read More...]
Manhattan
The Manhattan Nightclub is known across the world for being one of the best destinations for nightlife in the world. Much of it has to do with the incredible capacity of over 1,000 and two bars that will be dishing out huge quantities of beer plus tailor-made cocktails. The friendly atmosphere is an added bonus. You can make the most out of the SONO system that will give … [Read More...]
Calypso
Calypso is certainty one of the biggest clubs located in Hammamet, Tunisia. It is also the place where all the top international DJs come to entertain the guests making it a place that is surely not to be missed. Official website http://www.calypsotunisia.com/ … [Read More...]
Tozeur, a desert resort in Tunisia
Northern Africa is arid, which is not new for (almost) anyone. And much less populated than many of the regions are located in the desert oasis. Tozeur is the name of one of the oasis that few have ever heard about it .. In this case, the oasis of Tozeur is known for hospitality to tourists, its architectural heritage and the many facilities surrounded by hundreds of thousands of … [Read More...]
the history of tunisia
tunisia
Tunisia (US 
i /tuːˈniːʒə/ tew-NEE-zhə, UK /tjuːˈnɪziə/ tew-NIZ-iə; Arabic: تونس [ˈtuːnis], Berber: Tunes), officially the Tunisian Republic, is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area is almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi), with an estimated population of just over 10.4 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the north-east.
Tunisia is the smallest of the nations situated along the Atlas mountain range. The south of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, with much of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil and 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline. Both played a prominent role in ancient times, first with the famous Phoenician city of Carthage, then as the Roman province of Africa, which was known as the "bread basket" of Rome. Later, Tunisia was occupied by Vandals during the 5th century AD, Byzantines in the 6th century, and Arabs in the 8th century. Under the Ottoman Empire, Tunisia was known as "Regency of Tunis". It passed under French protectorate in 1881. After obtaining independence in 1956 the country took the official name of the "Kingdom of Tunisia" at the end of the reign of Lamine Bey and the Husainid Dynasty. With the proclamation of the Tunisian republic on July 25, 1957, the nationalist leader Habib Bourguiba became its first president.
The country was governed by the authoritarian regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from 1987 to 2011 before he fled during the Tunisian revolution. Tunisia, an export-oriented country in the process of liberalizing and privatizing an economy that has averaged 5% GDP growth since the early 1990s, had suffered corruption benefiting the former president's family.[7]
Tunisia has relations with both the European Union—with whom it has an association agreement—and the Arab world. Tunisia is also a member of the Arab League and the African Union. Tunisia has established close relations with France in particular, through economic cooperation, industrial modernization, and privatisation programs. The government's approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict has also made it an intermediary in Middle Eastern diplomacy
i /tuːˈniːʒə/ tew-NEE-zhə, UK /tjuːˈnɪziə/ tew-NIZ-iə; Arabic: تونس [ˈtuːnis], Berber: Tunes), officially the Tunisian Republic, is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area is almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi), with an estimated population of just over 10.4 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the north-east.Tunisia is the smallest of the nations situated along the Atlas mountain range. The south of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, with much of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil and 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline. Both played a prominent role in ancient times, first with the famous Phoenician city of Carthage, then as the Roman province of Africa, which was known as the "bread basket" of Rome. Later, Tunisia was occupied by Vandals during the 5th century AD, Byzantines in the 6th century, and Arabs in the 8th century. Under the Ottoman Empire, Tunisia was known as "Regency of Tunis". It passed under French protectorate in 1881. After obtaining independence in 1956 the country took the official name of the "Kingdom of Tunisia" at the end of the reign of Lamine Bey and the Husainid Dynasty. With the proclamation of the Tunisian republic on July 25, 1957, the nationalist leader Habib Bourguiba became its first president.
The country was governed by the authoritarian regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from 1987 to 2011 before he fled during the Tunisian revolution. Tunisia, an export-oriented country in the process of liberalizing and privatizing an economy that has averaged 5% GDP growth since the early 1990s, had suffered corruption benefiting the former president's family.[7]
Tunisia has relations with both the European Union—with whom it has an association agreement—and the Arab world. Tunisia is also a member of the Arab League and the African Union. Tunisia has established close relations with France in particular, through economic cooperation, industrial modernization, and privatisation programs. The government's approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict has also made it an intermediary in Middle Eastern diplomacy
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