In the Hammam, from Morocco to Syria - part 1
Hammams or bathhouses hold a special place in the daily life and traditions of peoples across the Arab world. Although hammams can be visited and experienced in many places including in Morocco, Turkey and Jordan, little is known and said about the hammam experience in Syria. This two-part blog series will explore hammam experiences from Morocco to Syria.
When I was in college, I spent a semester in Morocco. The program placed students in homestays with Morrocan families living in the traditional medina or old city of Rabat, the Kingdom’s capital. Experiencing the traditional lifestyle included spending Sunday afternoons soaking in one of the hammams nestled deep within the medina’s labyrinth of winding corridors and colorful alleyways.
Much like other treasures in the medina, the door leading into a hammam gives no indication of what is to be discovered. The mood lighting and multiple archways give way to a coveted sanctuary for women and men, separately, to meet each other, to catch up on the latest gossip and to enjoy a day of relaxation and purification.
The first time I went to the hammam, I expected to only be there for about half an hour. I brought my toiletry bag of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The attendant collecting the entrance fee refused to let me enter with the bag, indicating that those items do not properly clean. Instead I was handed a kees, the Moroccan version of the mitt loofah and beldi black soap. A lady working in the hammam then escorted through the multiple rooms of the windowless hammam, to a stone well where hot and cold water are mixed in a bucket to make a soothing temperature. I then found a free spot on the ground to begin the cleansing rituals; scrubbing away the impurities off my skin with the loofah and soap.
While soaking, bathing and drinking tea, the experience also provided a window into the lives of Moroccan women. It showed me how they spend time together and what self care means to them. Self care means to slow down and take as much time as you need for yourself no matter what is waiting for you beyond the door of the hammam. Allow yourself the time to clear your mind and indulge in small self care pleasures.
Stay tuned for Syria Hammam stories from one of the Mint + Laurel founders in our upcoming blog piece. In the meantime, to help you create your own at-home hammam experience, check out Mint + Laurel’s Damascus Body Mitt loofah paired with a luxurious Aleppo soap bar.