local conditions and customs
Algeria
The name of Algeria comes from the city name and capital Algiers. In Arabic, it means "archipelago" and refers to the four islands located in the bay of the city before. After 1525, these four islands gradually became integrated with the mainland. [1] The Kingdom of Berber was established in the 3rd century BC. In 146 BC, it became a province of ancient Rome. In 702, it was conquered by the Arabs. In the 16th century, it became a province of the Ottoman Empire. [1] Shortly after, the forces of Spain, Portugal, France and other countries successively invaded. In 1830, France occupied Algiers, and in 1905, it occupied the entire territory. On September 19, 1958, the Provisional Government of the Republic was announced. Independence was declared on July 3, 1962.
language：
The official language of Algeria is Arabic, Tamazit (a dialect of the Berber people) has been designated as the national language since 2002, and French is the lingua franca. [15]
religion：
Islam is the state religion of Algeria. About 99% of the residents are Muslims, belonging to the Sunni sect. There are 14000 mosques in the country. In addition, there are a small number of Catholics. [15]
folk dance：
Algerian dance is basically divided by region, with each region having one or several representative folk dances.
The most popular dance in the Algiers region is wedding dance. Dance represents the wedding customs of the region and is a collective dance in the wedding ceremony. The dance only has one basic footwork, but the formation is complex and varied, coupled with people constantly shouting "yo...", the atmosphere is warm and has a special atmosphere. The dance in the Algiers region generally has the characteristics of gentleness and reserve, slow rhythm, simple movements, and diverse formations. [8]
The dance in the Sahara region is represented by the Sahara knight dance and horse dance. The dance depicts the scene of a knight training a horse. During the dance, the man holds a musket while the horse is represented by a woman, mainly in a group dance of male and female pairs, with a single "horse training" double dance inserted in the middle, showcasing the different skills of each woman's crotch and feet. In this area, there are more foot movements in dance, with the pauses and movements of the feet driving the crotch movements. Different rhythms have different dance steps, but there are fewer upper limb movements. As this is a pastoral area, there are the most dances depicting knights and horses.
The dance forms in the Kabeli region are particularly rich, with a large number of dance vocabulary. Mainly focusing on the movements of the crotch, the movements are more intense and active. Dove Dance is one of the most common programs in the region, which is a game dance that portrays pigeons, owls, and caretakers fighting each other. In dance, there is often a single performance of a "pigeon", which uses different techniques such as shaking the crotch, side shaking the crotch, quick shaking the crotch, and round shaking the crotch to express the different expressions of the pigeon. [8]
Algerian dance usually involves dramatic plots, but there are also pure emotional dances. The Jean Dali dance in the Constantine region is a popular emotional dance in the region, where men and women form two circles and move back and forth to the rhythm of the music. Sometimes there is also a solo dance, mostly female, in the Jeandari dance.
Singing while dancing is the main feature of Algerian dance, accompanied by Arabic drums and Andalusian music, with lyrics expressing the content of the dance. Dance costumes have a strong Arabic color, similar to everyday clothing, but more luxurious and fresh.
custom：
Meeting gift. When meeting for the first time, a handshake is usually used, and when meeting with friends of the same sex, a face to face salute is often used. Men generally do not take the initiative to shake hands with women.
Dress code. Islamic traditional men generally wear long pants and long sleeved shirts. Wear a suit and tie during business activities. Women should dress plainly and avoid revealing. The skirt must be above the knee, and the shirt sleeves must be above the elbow.
Pray. Muslims pray 5 times a day. At prayer time, devout Muslims will put aside all their work and go to nearby mosques or worship on the spot. At this point, guests should not disturb or show impatience, and should patiently wait to show respect for Islam. Friday is a collective Sunday.
Ramadan
