Welcome to Watermelon Pages
Find the artisans, artists, chefs, stories and more that celebrate and amplify Palestinian art, culture and food ways.
What's with the Watermelon?
The watermelon holds a deeply symbolic place in Palestinian culture, embodying both culinary tradition and a powerful symbol of resistance. This fruit's red flesh, green rind, and black seeds, mirror the colors of the Palestinian flag. After the Six Day War in 1967 through to 1993, the Palestinian flag was banned by Israel, and the watermelon emerged as a poignant substitute. Its colors became a subtle yet defiant way for Palestinians to express their identity and hope for independence.
The fruit is not only a staple in Palestinian cuisine, often enjoyed as a refreshing summer treat or incorporated into traditional dishes, but also serves as a reminder of resilience and cultural pride. The watermelon's role in daily life and cultural symbolism reflects the enduring spirit or sumood (the Arabic word for "steadfastness", predominantly used to describe the Palestinian people's resilience) of a people who have creatively preserved their heritage and asserted their identity amidst brutal occupation and adversity.
Tell your Watermelon Story
Are you Palestinian? Your voice needs to be heard to combat the past almost-century long erasure, gaslighting, and silencing of Palestinian history and voices. Tell us your story and be a part of building the true Palestinian narrative.
Get StartedFrom the blog
A Life Changing Deal That Took Me to Hebron in Palestine
The deal kept my dad alive and opened up a new world of family and heritage for me.
…By Deema Tamimi
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Food: The Gateway to Talking About Palestine
In 2015 visited the Middle East, spending time traveling and seeing family in Cairo, Amman and Hebron in the …
By Deema Tamimi
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Qidra, a Dish That Takes You on a Culinary Journey to Hebron in the West Bank
This recipe was originally posted on Medium and has received quite a lot of love over the past year. …
By Deema Tamimi
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What are food ways?
Food ways are the eating habits and culinary practices of a people, region, or historical period. With Palestinians subject to over 75 years of brutal and illegal occupation as well as mass-scale dehumanization, it's more critical than ever to document, preserve, share and amplify our humanity through Palestinian food ways. This site aims to not only educate on the food practices themselves, but on the deep connections that our foods have on our culture, relationships, resilience and even resistance.