Jordan

Culture/Traditions

A core aspect of Jordanian culture is hospitality. The social rule of taking care of the guest originates in Bedouin tradition and is deeply embedded in the Jordanian society and customs. Every Jordanian has a natural predisposition to being kind and hospitable toward the visitor, earning Jordan a special recognition in the hospitality sector. Along with the value of hospitality and generosity, Jordan has also surprisingly managed to preserve its cultural identity and costumes against the influence of globalization. Daily or occasionally, Jordanian men and women still wear traditional customs. The traditional outfit typically worn by men is made of a one-piece full-body covering dress, called a Dishdashah or Thoub, and a head cover including a white cup called Thagiyah and a scarf-like head cover. The women’s national custom is a handmade full-body covering dress usually black with embroiled red patterns.

Beyond the rich traditional culture, new forms of music and arts are constantly growing, pushed by new generations’ need for a place to vent frustrations and concerns over the socio-political situation of the region, and desire to create their identity halfway between the traditional values and modernity. The paintings, sculptures, graffiti, and photography, in the streets, and numerous galleries and cafes of Amman, are all representations of Jordan’s artistic movements.

History

First in record was during the Neolithic period where evidence of a settled life and growth through discovered artistic work suggests a well developed civilization. After that Amman was called Rabat Amon by the Ammonites. The Assyrians conquered it afterwards followed the Persians and then Macedonians that changed the name to Philadelphia, which later became part of the Nabatean Kingdom up until 106 AD when it came under Roman control and joined the Decapolis. Byzantine era came after and churches from this period are still present. Modern Jordan was founded by King Abdullah I after World War I. It was ruled by his grandson, The Late King Hussein, for 46 years until his death in 1999, when his son King Abdullah II assumed the throne. Jordan has grown into a modern nation which has enjoyed a remarkable measure of peace, stability and economic growth in recent decades.

Places to visit

Petra

Wadi Rum

Jerash

Al Mujib Nature Reserve

Dead Sea

Popular Food

Mansaf

Molokhia

Maqluba

Musakhan

Makmous

Currency

In 1949 the country passed the Provisional Act No. 35 which created the Jordanian Currency Board (based in London) which then introduced the new currency in 1950.
In 1992 the removing of fils and dirham from Arabic coins occur, and issuing English denominations in dinar and either qirsh or piastres.
The first series of notes in 1949 came in ½, 1, 5, 10, and 50 dinars, but now come in 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 dinars. The Central Bank of Jordan took over note printing responsibility in 1959

Tips/Resources

Credit Cards and ATMs: You’ll find banks, ATMs and exchange offices at the airport and in major shopping malls. The most widely accepted card is Visa followed by MasterCard. However, you won’t find ATMs in remote areas like Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and inside Petra, so be sure to bring enough cash with you
Plugs: The plugs in Jordan are Type C, D, F, G, and J. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter (make sure it has surge protection) and using a converter for hairdryers and hot tools.
Budget: Jordan is surprisingly one of the more expensive destinations I’ve ever traveled. You won’t find a well-paved tourist route, in the sense that there aren’t boutique hotels or tons of options. So, I find that staying at 5-star resorts tends to be the most comfortable and things can get quite expensive. You’ll also find accommodations are pretty expensive and you don’t have ton of options in places like Petra or the Dead Sea. Most places run around $150-$200 a night