Lifestyle
7.4.2023
Jasmine : Tunisia’s floral emblem
A vague history In his book “Mediterranean Winter”, Robert D. Kaplan suggests that the tradition of wearing jasmine in Tunisia dates back to the Punic era. Other sources however believe that the plant was introduced to the country by Andalusian refugees in the 1600s, following the Reconquista. The exact origins of this Tunisian custom remain […]
A vague history
In his book “Mediterranean Winter”, Robert D. Kaplan suggests that the tradition of wearing jasmine in Tunisia dates back to the Punic era. Other sources however believe that the plant was introduced to the country by Andalusian refugees in the 1600s, following the Reconquista. The exact origins of this Tunisian custom remain unclear. In any case, jasmine is now one of the country’s most recognizable symbols. On summer evenings, many people wear it as they wander leisurely through their cities.
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A cultural landmark
Jasmine holds a special place in Tunisian heritage as the national flower. The delicate white flowers and bewitching fragrance of jasmine are synonymous with the country’s charm, and can be found in landscapes, gardens and even traditional crafts. Within the Tunisian diaspora, the expression “rihet lebled”, meaning “the perfume of home”, is commonly evoked. This expression expresses nostalgia for Tunisia and is closely associated with the smell of jasmine.
A Tunisian bride with a bouquet of jasmines.
Beyond its status as a national symbol, jasmine plays a role in everyday expressions of goodwill. Tunisians often use the expression “Nharek fol w Yasmine”, meaning “May your day be as gay as the jasmines”, to wish others a good day.
The flower is also becoming increasingly popular with tourists. “It’s great when foreigners come. Especially the Spanish and Italians, they really like jasmine,” a jasmine bouquet maker in Sidi Bou Said told Arab News Agency.
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A symbol of love
The flower is also considered a symbol of love. This notion is reflected in Tunisian love songs such as Hedi Jouini’s Taht el Yasmina fel Lil, which translates as “Under the jasmine, the night”, or in Lotfi Bouchnak’s song Ritek Ma Naaref Win, in which he compares his lover to a bouquet of jasmine.
Picture you can smell! 🇹🇳 Especially in summer time.
Crafted by my daughter.#Tunisia #Machmoum #Jasmine pic.twitter.com/JsP8athtZM— Habib M'henni (@HabibMhenni) June 22, 2022
Jasmines can be spotted in several Tunisian towns, chiefly Hammamet. The variety used in Tunisia is the Jasminum sambac, also known as Arabian jasmine. This species undergoes a meticulous production process to create what is known as machmoum. Artisans carefully assemble small, durable bouquets using esparto stem and cotton thread, which requires each flower to be quickly picked and wrapped without damage. The end result is a fragrant creation that has become a symbol of Tunisian culture. In 2007, Ferjani Alaghrbi prepared a giant bouquet of jasmine, which was entered in the Guinness Book of Records. Preparing the huge machmoum, made up of 500 small Machmoumi, required 6 kg of jasmine, or around 23,040 flowers.
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