1- Jordan's official name is Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
2- King Abdullah claims to be the 43rd generation direct descended from the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
2- King Abdullah claims to be the 43rd generation direct descended from the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
3- It's common to see families picnicking and barbecuing on top of any piece of grass, or near the roads of Amman, even during the night. Leaving there the resulting waste.
4- The weekend is Friday and Saturday. So, the working days are from Sunday to Thursday.
5- Some shops are closed on Friday or open later, as is considered a holy prayer day for muslims.
6- Jordan's national dish is Mansaf that consists in arabic flat bread topped with rice, some lamb cooked in a salty goat yogurt (Jameed) with almonds on top.
7- Jordan's official language is arabic, but english is the second language, as Jordan was a former British colony.
8- in Jordan, there's post office but there's no public service of postmen.
9- During the Summer months, a governmental van pulverizes, announced, a substance for mosquitos, through the city. Nobody seems to know what substance is this, but if it kills mosquitoes, it might be poisonous.
10- Jordanian parents don't like their babies and children to be praised, as they believe that their children are being envied and it will bring bad luck.
4- The weekend is Friday and Saturday. So, the working days are from Sunday to Thursday.
5- Some shops are closed on Friday or open later, as is considered a holy prayer day for muslims.
6- Jordan's national dish is Mansaf that consists in arabic flat bread topped with rice, some lamb cooked in a salty goat yogurt (Jameed) with almonds on top.
7- Jordan's official language is arabic, but english is the second language, as Jordan was a former British colony.
8- in Jordan, there's post office but there's no public service of postmen.
9- During the Summer months, a governmental van pulverizes, announced, a substance for mosquitos, through the city. Nobody seems to know what substance is this, but if it kills mosquitoes, it might be poisonous.
10- Jordanian parents don't like their babies and children to be praised, as they believe that their children are being envied and it will bring bad luck.
11- By the end of July, it's usual to hear car buzzing, screams and bullets being shoot to the air as celebration for the students that graduated high school (Tawjihi).
During the night, the families may throw a party to celebrate, make fireworks, and invite guests that should bring presents.
12- To show emotions, as happiness, the arabic women scream in a very peculiar way - called ululation. This is very common in weddings.
12- To show emotions, as happiness, the arabic women scream in a very peculiar way - called ululation. This is very common in weddings.
13- Women cannot participate in the public wake and funeral. Just men are allowed. Women have their own wake inside their house.
14- Since the suicide bombings of 2005, that happened in hotels in Amman, security was reinforced in Jordan. Metal detectors were placed in hotels, governmental places and some public buildings, like museums, shopping centers.
15- Muslims should pray five times a day. The calls for prayer are made from the mosques, through loudspeakers.
Men are expected to pray in the mosques and women in home. But, they should pray wherever place they are, facing Mecca.
15- Muslims should pray five times a day. The calls for prayer are made from the mosques, through loudspeakers.
Men are expected to pray in the mosques and women in home. But, they should pray wherever place they are, facing Mecca.
16- Star rating of hotels is according to the Jordan Hotel Association. Hotels in Jordan are of lower standards in comparison with hotels in Europe and the United State.
17- The jordanian couples need to present the marriage certificate to stay in hotels up to 4 stars. The hotels of 5 stars do not request it. The hotels do not ask this document to foreigners couples.
18- Scenes of nudity from foreign movies, are total or partial covered.
18- Scenes of nudity from foreign movies, are total or partial covered.
19- Despite the civil wars in the neighboring countries, Jordan managed to remain stable and calm. it is a safe place to visit and live, at least until now.
20- People are very vain and competitive. Even if they are very poor.
21- The legal age to work is 16 years old.
22- Muslims women cannot have painted nails to pray. So, if you see a muslim woman with painted nails, she is, probably, menstruating. Menstruating woman cannot pray.
23- Returning a look to a man or smiling is considered flirting.
20- People are very vain and competitive. Even if they are very poor.
21- The legal age to work is 16 years old.
22- Muslims women cannot have painted nails to pray. So, if you see a muslim woman with painted nails, she is, probably, menstruating. Menstruating woman cannot pray.
23- Returning a look to a man or smiling is considered flirting.
24- The legal age for driving and drinking is 18.
25- The national minimum salary is 220JD that is around 264 Euros.
26- The most famous jordanian poet is Mustafa Wahbi al-Tal.
27- Fulla is the middle eastern version of Barbie. This doll wears a hijab or a burka.
25- The national minimum salary is 220JD that is around 264 Euros.
26- The most famous jordanian poet is Mustafa Wahbi al-Tal.
27- Fulla is the middle eastern version of Barbie. This doll wears a hijab or a burka.
28- Travelers are expected to respect the law. If you break the law and end in prison, your embassy can only contact your relatives and recommend local lawyers.
29- Criticizing the king is illegal.
30- "The Jordanian government doesn’t interfere with the practice of Christianity but encouraging conversion to the Christian faith is illegal. It is also illegal for a Muslim to convert to Christianity."
31- Muslims don't eat pork. But, there're butchers that sell pork meat for the christian community.
32- Over half of the country's population lives in Amman.
33- People are nice and polite on the surface. Usually they don't really mean what they say: promises, warm greetings, compliments. It just part of their culture and language - to be nice.
34- All the meat and animal product consumed by the muslims should be halal. Halal means permitted. Just the permitted food can be eaten.
Halal is an islamic form of animal slaughter and preparation of the food.
31- Muslims don't eat pork. But, there're butchers that sell pork meat for the christian community.
32- Over half of the country's population lives in Amman.
33- People are nice and polite on the surface. Usually they don't really mean what they say: promises, warm greetings, compliments. It just part of their culture and language - to be nice.
34- All the meat and animal product consumed by the muslims should be halal. Halal means permitted. Just the permitted food can be eaten.
Halal is an islamic form of animal slaughter and preparation of the food.
35- Civil and commercial law, in Jordan, are based on British law.
36- In general, garages have no door and some not even roof. Its purpose is not to offer security against robbery or weather conditions, but just a parking place.
37- Many middle eastern people don't think of western women as respectful women. On the contrary, western people are seen as promiscuous.
The "provocative" dressing, having several boyfriends before getting married, dating, sex before marriage and the movies are some of the reasons.
It's just a matter of cultural differences. Like happens in the west, where some people think that all the muslims are terrorists and that arabic women are bought by their future husbands.
37- Many middle eastern people don't think of western women as respectful women. On the contrary, western people are seen as promiscuous.
The "provocative" dressing, having several boyfriends before getting married, dating, sex before marriage and the movies are some of the reasons.
It's just a matter of cultural differences. Like happens in the west, where some people think that all the muslims are terrorists and that arabic women are bought by their future husbands.
38- The national Jordanian holidays are:
- New Year's Day (1st of January),
- Labor Day (1st of May),
- Independence Day (25th of May),
- Christmas Day (25th of December).
39- The Islamic holidays depend on the moon calendar:
- The Eid-al-Ftir, end of Ramadan (4 days);
- Eid-al-Aid, Feast of Sacrifice (5 days);
- Muharram, New Year's (1day)
- Prophet's birthday day (1 day)
40- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Martian, The Mummy returns, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and many others films, were filmed in Wadi Rum and Petra.
41- There's a street in Amman, called Abdali Boulevard, where is necessary to pass a metal detector and be searched by a police for men and have the handbag checked for the women. All of this just to walk in a street, that is open air. This street, where we can find shops, cafes, restaurants, hotel and others, has a closing time. And people need to leave the street.
42- It is considered polite to refuse three times a offer for tea or dinner and just accept if the other insists. It means it is a genuine offer.
43- It is usual, for Jordanian women to cry in their jobs. For reasons like a colleague or the manager didn't like the work done or any other reason.
44- The christians, in Jordan, are arabs. So, there are not many differences between them and the muslims arabs. Jordanian christians even have muslims names as Abdullah and Muhammad.
The major differences might be: christians freely drink alcohol, eat pig and the women don't cover the hair and wear tighter clothes.
41- There's a street in Amman, called Abdali Boulevard, where is necessary to pass a metal detector and be searched by a police for men and have the handbag checked for the women. All of this just to walk in a street, that is open air. This street, where we can find shops, cafes, restaurants, hotel and others, has a closing time. And people need to leave the street.
42- It is considered polite to refuse three times a offer for tea or dinner and just accept if the other insists. It means it is a genuine offer.
43- It is usual, for Jordanian women to cry in their jobs. For reasons like a colleague or the manager didn't like the work done or any other reason.
44- The christians, in Jordan, are arabs. So, there are not many differences between them and the muslims arabs. Jordanian christians even have muslims names as Abdullah and Muhammad.
The major differences might be: christians freely drink alcohol, eat pig and the women don't cover the hair and wear tighter clothes.