The most prominent names for `cold` in Saudi Arabia

2024-11-06 2024-11-06T12:47:23Z

Arab Weather - The weather and its fluctuations have always been associated with many names in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These names are passed down through generations from the people of the Arabian Peninsula, who used to carefully monitor the sky and rely on astrology and astronomy in weather forecasts.

In the beginning, the Saudis were closely connected to the stars, as they used to follow the appearance of some special stars in the sky to predict the weather, whether it would be hot, moderate, or cold, and even if it would rain.

Saudis' connection to stars and weather forecasts

Dr. Fayez Abdullah Al-Makkenzi, a researcher in the history of the Arabian Peninsula, told the media that there are many names that Saudis used to refer to cold weather, which were imposed on them by the nature of life in the desert. Among these names are “Al-Murabba’aniya,” “Al-Shabt,” “Bayya’ Al-Khabal Abayatuh,” and “Muqarqa’ Al-Bayban,” all of which reflected the deep understanding of the people of the Arabian Peninsula about the fluctuations of the weather. Al-Makkenzi added that winter in Saudi Arabia was divided into periods of time, each characterized by different climatic conditions.

Winter divisions in Saudi Arabia

Mackenzie began by talking about the divisions of winter, starting with “Juwairid”, which is a strong wind that pulls the leaves of trees. This is followed by the “Murabba’aniya” period, which lasts for 40 days and is characterized by extreme cold, as light snow falls and the winds are uniquely called “Al-Sareem”.

After the forty-day period, comes a three-week period known in a special order as “Saad Dhabh”, “Saad Bal’a”, and “Sab’a Sam”, which is characterised by very cold weather. The “Sab’a Dam” period is the coldest, to the point that blood flows from the camels’ noses due to the intense cold, while “Sab’a Yaseel Al-Damm” means that the cold has become less severe.

Saad Balaa: The last of the winter storms

On the other hand, Abdul Aziz Al-Hussaini, a researcher in weather and climate, confirmed that today is the beginning of “Saad Bal’a”, which is the second scorpion and the seventh star of winter. This period extends for thirteen days, and is considered the last of the winter signs. In this context, Al-Hussaini indicated in a series of tweets on his official Twitter account that “Saad Bal’a” is known as the “blood scorpion”, a period about which it is said: “If Saad Bal’a rises, it storms the quarter, catches its people in the wilderness, hunts the pasture, and shines on the ground.”

Some popular sayings about the cold

There are many popular sayings that are passed down through generations, including the well-known proverb “If the cold weather comes out, the whale dies,” which is used to refer to extreme cold. Also prominent is the phrase “the seller of the crazy cloak,” which is a sarcastic expression given to a person who sells his cloak that protects him from the cold after warm days, believing that the cold is over, only to be surprised by a severe cold wave, and is described as crazy, meaning a person who believes something other than the truth or “stupid.”