Decorations for occasions, especially the month of Ramadan. Insistence on joy in Jordanians' homes despite the tight situation

Despite the daily problems and the narrow situation, Jordanians, like many Arab and other peoples, are looking for outlets for happiness through which to get out of their living reality.

Jordanians take advantage of their joys by chanting expressive folk songs, and on their various occasions – especially seasonal and annual ones such as Ramadan, Mother's Day, graduation parties and weddings – they go to decorative shops to decorate their homes, whether with expressions of joy, balloons or other types of decorations.

Among the phrases repeated by Jordanians at the groom's wedding is "Joy has entered our home. Ya Meen Yehnina", and it is also repeated by women in their separate gatherings inside homes, and serves as an explicit invitation to share in a joy dear to the hearts of the people of the house.

Ways of joy on occasions are a culture that differs from one country to another, but in the end it gives a person what he is looking for to clear the worries in his heart, shake off the dust of fatigue and hardship, and bring happiness to himself even if the reality of his living is narrow.

The phrase "Ramadan Mubarak" adorns the Ramadan sweets corner (Al Jazeera)

Written phrases

"Ramadan Karim", "In our house is a baby" (in our house is a new baby), "In our house is a groom", "In our house is a graduate", and other phrases adorn the entrances to the homes of Jordanians in a way that their owners wanted to show their visitors the nature of the occasion that brought joy to their hearts.

As for the colors of the balloons, the pink color indicates that the newborn is female, and the blue color is for the male, as well as the letters of the name of the newborn that are attached to the walls of the interior rooms.

Different forms and rituals to express joy have become modern methods for Jordanians, and are no longer limited to the rich as they were in the past, but have become widespread among the general Jordanian population, as joy is not the monopoly of a particular class.

The streets of the Jordanian capital Amman are covered with manifestations of Ramadan adultery, which Jordanians buy (Reuters)

Variety decorations

Hussam Abu Haniyeh, 28, owner of a shop selling flowers and occasion decorations in the capital Amman, told Anatolia that "there is a great demand from Jordanians for occasion decorations, but the nature of the demand depends on the financial conditions of the owner of the occasion."

"Our decorations are varied, the rich take as much as they have, and the poor also take, but simple things and the nature of the request are what show the circumstances of their owner," Haniyeh said.

"Roses are the most popular for weddings, followed by birth, university graduation, New Year and Mother's Day, and each occasion has its own decorations," he said.

As for sticky and wooden phrases, Haniyeh said they are "simple and affordable for everyone, as their prices range from 3 to 5 dinars ($4-7)."

Ahmed Abu Ashour (18), who specializes in ornamental shapes and installation and communicates with his customers through social media, told Anatolia, "The most special decorations for graduation, birthdays and newborns are colored balloons, and we write through devices dedicated to this purpose."

"Decorations are internal and external, internal to a home, school or hospital, and external, to shops and doors, and are usually accompanied by a word or phrase explaining the nature of the occasion," he said.

Decorating the mother's room after her birth in the hospital takes many forms in contemporary Jordanian culture (Al-Jazeera-Archive)

Improving the psychological state

Cyrine Daraj, 26, one of the women in charge of running a beauty center in the capital Amman, had a different opinion, telling Anatolia, "Our frequent renewal of decorations inside the center aims to improve the psychological state of its female patrons and our workers as well."

"On all occasions we have different decorations, holidays, New Year, Ramadan and other occasions, and this has contributed to sharing our visitors their opinions about the nature of what we do, some of them do not hide their admiration, and others make some suggestions," she said.

"Some believe that what the center does is financially expensive, but we believe that improving the visitor's psychology is the basis of success and an important factor to attract him, and we have found a way to achieve this," she said.

Dr. Hussein Mahadeen: Despite the economic conditions, there is an abundant share of the conscience of Jordanians towards the exchange of congratulations and gifts (Al Jazeera)

A space of joy

Hussein Mahadeen, a professor of sociology at Mutah State University, told Anadolu Agency that "Jordanians, by nature and by virtue of the environment in which they live, are accustomed to overcoming their reality, whether economically or by always biasing towards the meanings of joy."

"The cycle of life from birth to death is alternating stations during which Jordanians insisted on taking a wide area of joy, whether in traditional singing such as (young people play, play and death is what they mean, and age is like the moon is not satisfied), and this duality has expressions that always mean we as Jordanians have a tendency to joy and recognition of the right to die," he said.

"Despite the pressing economic conditions, there is an abundant share of Jordanians' conscience towards the joy of Christmas, the exchange of congratulations and gifts, and the participation of each other in the joys, not forgetting the nature of their choice of light colors for their home gates, shop signs, and even the edges of their major streets," Mahadin added.

"This is not far from the effects of globalization, which Jordanians invest in through social media tools on various occasions, such as the distinctive use of technology, colorful images and cheerful letters while exchanging congratulations on occasions of joy," he said.

Jordanians live in difficult economic conditions due to the repercussions of the crises surrounding the Kingdom, but joy for them is not accompanied by circumstances, as it is an innate value in man, and living in it only requires a will without paying attention to any inconveniences that prevent its achievement and completion.