Al Dhaid Fort Square witnesses launch of Sharjah Heritage Days
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi toured the corridors of the festival, and listened to a brief explanation about the various facilities and events
Al Dhaid Fort Square, one of the most prominent heritage landmarks in Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates, witnessed the launch of the activities of the 21st edition of the Sharjah Heritage Days, where Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah, and Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, opened the event. The new edition was also atended by a distinguished governmental and popular presence.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi toured the corridors of the festival, and listened to a brief explanation about the various facilities and events presented by a number of festival officials. He praised the various heritage manifestations that were filled with the Sharjah Heritage Days in Al Dhaid, which reflected what was recorded in people’s memories of crats, professions, folk tales, and artistic paintings reflected in the roots of authentic customs and traditions, and the diversity of popular costumes, which added joy and distinct elegance to the festival.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam said: “Throughout the past twenty-one editions of Sharjah Heritage Days, Al Dhaid was at the forefront of Sharjah cities that presented bright examples of the city’s local heritage, dazzled guests and visitors, and impressed them with the activities it presented and put them in the heart of the traditional heritage event prevalent in the past, adding well-deserved success to its previous successes.”
Al Hosn Square in Al Dhaid was decorated with a set of ancient heritage items that ranged between popular arts and heritage details enriched by broad governmental and community participation. Poetry evenings and cultural workshops also had an important cognitive impact in shedding light on the tangible and intangible heritage of the UAE, and the picture was completed with indicating the ;ocal heritage impact among today’s generations, appearing in splendid guise, winning the admiration of everyone, including visitors and guests.
JEJU PAVILION SHOWCASES RARE KOREAN HERITAGE IN SHARJAH: South Korean Keum Miyang is keen to continue her work in weaving an expensive hat from rare horse hair to complete the colourful crown of sorts for a nobleman in Jeju Province, South Korea.
Mi-yang, who is in her forties, came with her fellow artisan, belonging to a fast disappearing art and profession, to Sharjah translating the moto ‘Connection’ with the peoples of the world participating in ‘Sharjah Heritage Days’.
Mi-yang represents a culture and popular heritage of making hats for the upper classes. Her art is now limited to three women in all of South Korea due to the high skills and dedication required for the process of weaving hats. With incredible precision and patience, it takes these artists six to eight months to complete a single hat.
As Mi-yang sits in front of a circular wooden table on top of a bamboo base, she carefully gazes from behind her glasses at the precision of her fingertips weaving the shiny horse hair between the joints of the mould designed for making hats, out of three wooden moulds dedicated to her rare profession.
18 YEARS OF DEDICATION, HARD WORK: Mi-yang, who has been practising her profession for more than 18 years ater inheriting it from her ancestors, tells the story of noble hats, whose price sometimes reaches 2.1 won million in South Korean currency, equivalent to Dhs54,000. The priciest of these hats is designated for the king with three layers, while the two-layer hat is for the governor and the one-layer hat is reserved for nobles and upper classes.
A RARE HEIRLOOM: The pavilion representing Jeju Province of South Korea, which is the official guest of honour at the 21st session of Sharjah Heritage Days, reflects the rich and diverse cultural heritage that this province possesses. It has been a distinct addition to the Sharjah Heritage Days festival.
Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stresses the importance of Jeju Province’s participation in showcasing its culture and rare folk heritage, pointing out the depth of relations and ties between the United Arab Emirates, represented by Sharjah, and South Korea, represented by Jeju Province, through these enriching encounters and visits.