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CHARLES PRITCHARD
Staff Writer
While Sept. 23 marked the official Saudi National Day, Sept. 29 was a time of celebration and exchange of cultures for many students at Fredonia.
For the past few years, the Saudi Student Club has hosted an event in which it shares with the campus many aspects of the Saudi Arabian culture, from food and heritage to dress and history.
Saudi National Day marks the day in which King Abdulaziz Al Saud founded the country of Saudi Arabia as a kingdom on Sept. 23, 1932.
The event took place in Williams Center this year; attendees were greeted, asked to sign the registry and shown how to write their names in Arabic.
While quite a few people that night were first-timers, looking at everything with a fresh set of eyes, many others could be called regulars.
“This is my third year coming to Saudi National Day,” said Barbara Yochym, the secretary for the Education Development Program. “I got the email and as soon as I was done with work, I came right here.”
Yochym smiled from ear to ear when asked what drew her to the event each year.
“I like to see the different events and cultures on campus,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to try different foods and [the Saudi Student Club hosts] are so welcoming. They just want to show you everything about their culture and it’s a real treat.”
Some of the attractions included tables with various pieces of information about the Saudi Arabian way of life, such as pamphlets on the history and importance of date palm tree, along with plates encouraging people to try the fruit.
There was even a tent that Salamah Binsaedan, one of the organizers and speakers for the event, said was a “traditional tent, used to host guests.”
A camera was set up and you could get your picture taken while wearing traditional Saudi Arabian clothes.
But out of everything offered that night, one of the biggest attractions of Saudi National Day had to be the henna tattoo stand. A line 30 people long waited patiently as one woman drew intricate patterns and flowers across their hands and arms.
Melissa Neuburger, a freshman majoring in animation and illustration, was one of those in line. This was her first time attending the event.
“I do like cultures, and did want to check it out since it seemed like an experience,” said Neugurger. “It’s really cool and it’s been a learning experience so far. My friend and I just got our tattoos, tried the chai coffee [and] got my name in Arabic. It’s really cool, it’s like a continuous line.”
There was a quite a bit to see at the event, but one thing that caught a few eyes was the separation of the room by genders; women on one side and men on the other. Guests were allowed to move freely, but there was a distinct separation between Saudi Arabian men and women.
Binsaedan explained, “It’s tradition more than Islam. It’s our country’s tradition to be separated.”
Saudi Arabia is one of the more culturally conservative Muslim countries, practicing the Wahhabi form of the religion.
For an event that only happens once a year, the Saudi National Day celebration attracted many interested students who were able to engage in cultural exchange, and brought more awareness to the campus about Saudi Arabian culture.