Draft:The traditional attire of Annaba

The traditional attire of Annaba city in Algeria is among the most famous, such as "Dlala," "Llfa," "Shushna and Jabin," and "Takhlila." Annaba is also known for the diversity of embroidery styles, from Ftila to Cocktail, to whale shells and straw, "Perlaj," "Chichkhan," and "Hisab" "Hiboni embroidery," all of which are used in the Annaba woman's attire. Annaba is known as the city of the seven kaftans.

Dlala annabia

The henna dress for the Annaba bride consists of several pieces. Firstly, the "Qandoura" is the main piece, usually white or sky blue, embroidered with Ftila or sometimes Cocktail embroidery. Over the Qandoura, a long velvet "Qat" or "Kaftan" is worn, adorned with embroidery. Essential accessories include the "Dlala," a headpiece adorned with gold coins, either "Louaiz" or "Sultani," along with traditional jewelry such as "Kajali," "Algerian Jabin," "Shushanat," "Qitina," and cheek adornments. At the neck level, accessories accompany the bride's attire, including the "Louaiz's Butcher" and "Barley Thread" or "Whale Thread" with "Al-Lawh," traditional jewelry of the city. Additionally, the bride may wear "Boulhia Kravash," "Sakhap," and "Algerian Mukbel Necklace." Other accessories include "Annaba Ftila Gauge" or any type of gauge and a variety of rings.

Leffa annabia

It’s the second attire worn by the Annaba bride after the henna dress, called “Dlala.” The “Llfa” is worn with either the “Ftila Qandoura” or the Ftila Kaftan, with the most famous being the “Carnation Kaftan.” The “Annaba Llfa” consists mainly of head accessories, including:

• Annaba Sultanate Headscarf: Different from the Sultanate headscarf of Mostaganem, it’s an inherited scarf specific to Annaba, adorned with Sultanate, an ancient Ottoman gold coin. Historically associated with the city of Bouna, it was originally named the Sharifi Sultanate. However, today, the use of Sultanate has decreased, and Louaiz has been adopted as a substitute. This scarf is worn on the head after the bride’s hair is wrapped in Ftila fabric, adorned with “Al-Jabin,” “Shushanat,” cheek adornments, and the “Ra’ashah.” At the neck and hands, the bride wears the same mentioned jewelry.

"Shushanat" and "Jabin": This is the third attire worn by the Annaba bride after the "Dlala" and "Llfa." It consists of Algerian forehead jewelry combined with the "Shushanat" jewelry specific to Annaba city. The ensemble includes jewels and golden pieces attached to the bride's forehead, descending to her ears and cheeks. Often, the "Rayy" ornament is worn with any type of preferred Annaba Qandoura or even the Carnation Kaftan or any type of kaftan.

The Annabi Takhleela: It's the fourth traditional attire for the city of Annaba, and the Annabi Takhleela is the Amazigh touch added to the Annaba attire, associated with the customs of the seventh day for the Annaba bride. Annaba, known historically as "Bouna/Annaba," is a crossroads of many civilizations and is rich in a vast amount of intangible historical heritage. Among them are ancient wedding rituals deeply rooted in history, including the significance of the seventh-day ritual, an important day according to North African folk beliefs. In addition to the sanctity of the number seven, the ritual encompasses everything related to fertility, growth, and abundance.

For the urban dwellers of Annaba, it's a spiritual occasion and a highly significant day in the bride's life, where she is liberated from the taboos and restrictions associated with being a virgin. It's also a transition and entry into another life. It marks the official and practical beginning of married life, and the bride is considered a new official member of the groom's family, symbolized by the custom of the belt.

The Annaba bride wears her finest and most precious attire on this day, which is the Takhleela, woven from silk and threads of gold. It consists of a type of Amazigh Berber shawl draped over the shoulders with golden or silver threads and adorned with the special head covering of the Annaba region called the "Dlala." Additionally, it includes an embroidered Arab belt. Symbolically, the Takhleela is considered the first attire worn by a woman in her new married life.

During this ritual, the bride's waist is bound with a silk belt adorned with embroidered threads of gold, either twisted or braided, and sometimes adorned or attached with golden coins like Sultanate, known locally in Annaba as the "Arab belt." The maid of honor ties it at the right or left side of the waist. This ritual is very ancient and has been found in ancient civilizations, as evidenced by prehistoric wall paintings. Usually, the groom's younger siblings or male relatives assist in tying the belt, and it's customary for a young boy to roll around on the bride's bed, symbolically wishing for the bride to conceive a male child according to folk beliefs.

Female folk groups revive the ceremony of Ibn Ya'laan on the bride with praise and special verses for the occasion, sung in honor of Lady Manoubia.

The celebration and expenses of the seventh day fall on the mother of the groom, and it's an occasion to honor her new daughter-in-law, welcome her, and honor her family and guests. Among the dishes prepared on such a day is a fish dish, which carries symbolic significance as fish symbolizes prosperity and abundance. The bride then enters the kitchen for the first time to wash or touch the fish amid the ululations of the women...

Upon completing all the rituals and the bride's family preparing to bid farewell to their daughter, the groom's mother prepares the "Tiraz," yes, the Tiraz. She brings the special copper tray for Baklawa, called the "Boumitrah," empty. In it, she places a "ghorfia" or a plate of "Mahrou," a kind of delicate couscous specific to the region, along with a fish dish, a sponge cake, some traditional sweets, and decorates the space with "Keshkasha," a mixture of nuts like almonds, walnuts, dried figs, etc. The tray is covered with a silk or woven cloth.

The Qat annabi

The Annaba Qat is a jacket made of velvet embroidered with gold threads, known as "Ftila." It can be either short or medium length, with various cuts and embroidery patterns. It has several types, including the "Qat al-Qandoura," which can be long, short, or medium length, "Qat al-Sarwal," "Qat al-Dlala," "Qat with a capital and a headscarf," "Qat with a dress," among others, and the Qat is considered one type of kaftan.

Caftan fetla Annabi

It's one of the Algerian caftans, and the Ftila caftan is one of the oldest traditional garments found in the city of Annaba. It's made of "Qatifah" fabric and often embroidered with gold threads in various patterns. One of the most important designs is the "Carnation Kaftan," named after its resemblance to the carnation flower, which is considered a symbol of Annaba city. Annaba women have excelled in developing this attire, introducing new patterns and various types of Annaba embroidery, including Cocktail, Til, and others.

Types of Gandoura annabia

Gandoura fetla annabia

It is one of the oldest types of "gnader " (traditional Algerian women's attire) that has been present and still in use to this day. Fitla is the embroidery style adopted by the Annabis (people of Annaba) since ancient times in all aspects of their lives, whether in clothing, jewelry, or bedding, such as "Fitla bedding" or "Gold bedding." The Fitla Qandoura is authentic to the city of Annaba, and Fitla consists of threads of gold embroidered on Genoese velvet with various patterns and shapes. It was called Genoese velvet at that time, named after the Italian city of Genoa, where Italians used to exchange this type of velvet with Algerians for coral along the coasts of Annaba. "Fitla Qandoura" is a garment cherished by Annaba women, as well as all women of eastern Algeria.

Gandoura tel annabia

It is a type of Qandoura that is often worn during the bridal bath ceremony of the Annaba bride or at other occasions as well. It is simple in its embroidery, with gold thread on satin fabric, and is often accompanied by a matching "Hamam Awkassa" with the same embroidery.

Gandoura hesab

It is a Qandoura that is also often worn during the bridal bath ceremony of the Annaba bride and is characterized by beadwork embroidery, also known as "Hiboni" embroidery specific to the city of Annaba. This embroidery is distinguished by its various shapes and colors, and this attire is also accompanied by a matching Hamam Awkassa with the same embroidery.

Annaba cocktail gandoura

It has several subtypes, named for blending various types of threads such as Ftila, Adas, Contiel, and different types of sesame and stones in its embroidery. It is made on satin or velvet fabric, distinguished by its beautiful and vibrant colors, and also varies in its patterns and embroideries.

Perlage gandoura annabia

It is named as such because it uses only stones like Swarovski, pearls, etc., in its embroidery, not threads. It is derived from the French word "Perle," which means "stones," and is predominantly done on any type of fabric, whether satin or velvet.

Qshour hout gandoura annabia

It is among the old types of Qanader specific to the city of Annaba, and its embroidery primarily relies on lentils in a stacked technique to resemble the actual texture of a whale shell. It takes on bright and multiple colors.

Les appliques gandoura annabia

It is an old type of Annaba Qandoura that relies on distinctive fabric with various patterns, the most famous and prominent of which are the tulip flower, baskets, and clusters of grapes. These shapes are filled with cotton, and the neckline of this Qandoura is embroidered with various cherry motifs, whether in Ftila, Adas, Contiel, or others.

Wabra gandoura annabia

It is also one of the old types that Annaba women excelled in sewing on satin fabric with distinctive and special threads, adopting various patterns.

Koko gandoura annabia

It is one of the types of Qanader that are embroidered with colored threads and prominent shapes, often taking the form of flower buds. Annaba city also offers other types of Qanader, including Crystal Qandoura, Ribbon Qandoura, Peek Peek Qandoura, and others.