Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was created after World War I but has a history going back to ancient times, with modern-day Jordan occupying the land on the east bank of the River Jordan. A part of the Seleucid Empire, it was controlled by the Romans and was later a part of the Byzantine Empire, having been taken over by the Arabs, the Seljuk Turks, the Crusaders, the Seljuk Turks again, and the Ottoman Turks.

Historically, many of Jordan's games have involved shows or ability, prowess, strength, or guile, such as horseriding and racing, camel riding, archery, wrestling, and the like. The making of saddles, bridlewear and brightly colored horse blankets has been important. There is also a history of rug weaving. Under the long period of Turkish rule, many of the traditional pursuits of the Turks were followed by the locals, with Backgammon and playing cards being common with many men. As Jordan has a very high rate of literacy, reading has also been popular.

There are a number of musical instruments specific to Jordan, such as the gasabah, a type of recorder; a ganum, similar to a harp; the durbakkah, an earthenware drum; the duff, similar to a tambourine; and the ud, a stringed instrument. Often when Arab music is played in public, it is accompanied by people pounding their feet, clapping hands, or forming a chorus using small drums, as well as dancing. The most famous local dance, the debkah, is the origin of the Spanish flamenco, which people from the Jordan area took with them to Spain in the 9th century. There is also the sahjeh dance, which is popular with the Bedouin, which tells of heroic actions in history. This usually involved a sword dance. Music now also plays an important part of life at home, with recorded music or music heard on a transistor radio becoming common from the 1960s. There are also many bands, the most famous being the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces, which plays European military instruments, especially drums, and also bagpipes. Some of the most attended concerts are those held in the Roman theater in Amman.

Much of the celebrations that form a regular part of Jordanian life are connected with Muslim or Christian festivals. In August, the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts brings together many craftsmen and others who take part in performances or show their work. The Jordanian National Handicraft Project has also done much to preserve many aspects of Jordanian culture. In mid-November, the Aquaba Sports Festival involves aquatic sports including waterskiing. Hot air ballooning at Wadi Run has also attracted many people. The increase in education from the second half of the 20th century led to many sports being introduced as recreational activities, with soccer rapidly attracting a large following. Mention should also be made of the Scout and Girl Guide movements, established respectively in 1954 and 1938, and now merged to form the Jordanian Association for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. It has promoted hiking, camping, and activities that have helped many underprivileged people in the country.

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