I visited Yemen Dec. 9th to the 31st of 2012. During my stay in my hometown Aden, my sister and I drove by and stopped at a small store by one of the roads leading to Seerah –which is a bay area named after a fort called Seerah. It is said that the Portuguese who tried to invade the seaport Aden called it Seerah, and so the name stuck. Whether fact or fiction, the area is now called Seerah. Anyway, we stopped at this small store I was just telling you about where I used to pass by 15 years ago where this old man used to weave straw into baskets, Masaref [like this one], small flag fans, and totes etc. I secretly promised that once I went back to Aden for a visit, I would go to this store and buy some of this talented man’s crafts. Alhamdullilah Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’la gave me the chance to do so. Oftentimes, you secretly wish for something and you think no one knows but in actuality Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala does and grants the wish.I had always been telling my husband that I wanted a Masrafah rather than a dining table–so that’s another wish granted alhamdullilah.
Now what is a Masrafah you ask? It is a mat made of straw that you see a picture of at the beginning of this post. What do Yemenis use it for? Well, they used it for fine Yemeni dining . Maybe they still probably use it in rural areas. But in Aden people are now used to either using dining tables and chairs, or rolls of plastic that they spread on the ground instead of this reusable and environment friendly Masrafah. Maybe it is even hung on the wall as a relic of traditions past. What a pity! How is the Masrafah used? Well, it is laid on the floor, and the dishes cradling the food would be placed on it. Then people would gather around and eat. You don’t need a tablecloth, because the Masrafah comes in different colors and patterns–some of the straws woven in are dyed with bright colors as you can see in this picture:
And once the meal is over the Masrafah is dusted, wiped with a damp cloth, and hung up by a straw hook [see pic below] and hung up to dry.
This is a small part of my Yemeni tradition that I have longed for while living in the USA. If you are ever in Aden/Yemen pick one up for your home and give this hardworking man a hand. He had a huge smile on his face when I told him , “I never forgot you in 15 years.” He made dua for me. It was priceless! Like he continues to craft tradition , I am hoping through this post to perpetuate it among my blog visitors Insha Allah.
* Click here for a bread basket I also bought.
A Yemeniyah's Recipes 
I have a rather large number of those I have picked up over the years in different shapes, now mostly hanging around our home.
omg I too went to yemen this year it was wonderful alhamdulia but stayed in sanaa didn’t get a chance to go to aden. had a much longer stay then you though I came back the 14 of Jan.
Dear Dr. Lamya, Not everything is so sad as you describe. My family both in Aden and Hadhramaut still uses the Masrafah on a daily basis. Only if there are too many guests we would go for the plastic wrap table cloth. And I introduced the idea with my in-laws in Oman. But there, although they like it for breakfast in my home, the majority, as you said, uses the “modern” varieties.
In sha Allah I’ll check out the old craftsman in Seerah next time I’m in Aden. But just let me know: How’s the security situation in Aden from somebody living in the West’s perspective?
In sha Allah your family and our dear country and people are all well!
Alhamdullilah Sister Samira. You’re family are from the few. You know plastic bags are causing havoc in Yemen–they are EVERYWHERE. Clinging to trees, strewn across the beaches, and littering every place in sight. It is a sad sight.
Yes, please do check him out when you are in Seerah. I intend to do so insha Allah every time i go and visit.
Well, Aden is not as it was. Check points everywhere. Usually if i was with my husband they would be courteous, but if not they would stop him and ask for bribes. It is not safe being outside late in the evening. Oh and the men chewing Qat everywhere, even in places where families used to sit and enjoy their time is so disheartening. I want Aden back! What on earth happened! Garbage everywhere! People are no longer the same in Aden, littering and don’t know how to form a line ! It’s all a hot MESS! I was really really disheartened. What i feel i have left there is is my family. Nothing is as i knew it. Even nature was no longer appreciated– just random building here and there. You make an effort to see the sea from Aden . Seerah is no more either–just a small section of the sea is possible to actually enjoy. I liked it the way it was. Sigh!
Ameen to your dua. They are well alhamdullilah but only because they have faith in Allah and hope in Allah–otherwise it’s really tough living there. Especially Aden. Sanaa is in a much better situation than Aden. Aden has been reduced to a small village. Despite what people have been telling me –as regards Aden being better than it was–i am sorry i don’t see it. It is TERRIBLE! Allah Ya3eenhum in Aden. I am not for the separation of North and South, but for the two sides to co-exist there is yet a lot of work to be done.
Lamya
Salaam sister, I am so happy you got to visit Aden again. So, did you climb Seera? Do you have any advice for cheaper plane tickets to Yemen? Usually I travel Jordanian airlines
For us Turkish Airlines via Istanbul seems to be the cheapest at the moment. They travel to Sanaa and Aden.
Yeah we traveled with Turkish airlines as well.
No Zainab. Wallah i did want to and my cousin and i tried really hard to work out a time for us to go but you know with me being away for 13 years, there were too many people inviting us. So, we hardly got to go outside. We were just invited for lunch of dinner in this house or that. Insha Allah next time.
You know we traveled with Turkish airlines–i think they are, in terms of price, just like the Jordanian airlines.
Lamya