As the lands of the Jordan Valley don a green cloak with the arrival of early spring, the wild mallow plant, locally known as khobbeizeh, emerges as a symbol of resilience and deep connection to the land. This bond has long been celebrated by the Sons of the Valley Foundation through its annual Khobbeizeh Festival.
اضافة اعلان
Reviving Folk Heritage
Festival Director Mohammad Atiyeh explains that the Khobbeizeh Festival is not merely a culinary or recreational event set amid nature. Rather, it is a major cultural celebration aimed at reviving collective memory and safeguarding folk heritage from being forgotten.
“What grows from the land is part of its people’s identity,” he says. “It revives the way of life our ancestors lived for decades.”
In its eleventh edition, the festival seeks to strengthen the national narrative by highlighting the stories of place and the Jordanian people. It promotes the culture and heritage of the historically rich Jordan Valley, preserves identity and folk traditions, and passes this civilizational legacy on to future generations to reinforce belonging and authenticity.
The festival also pursues developmental, cultural, and social objectives. It showcases local cultural and heritage products and contributes to sustainable development in the Valley by economically empowering women. It serves as a platform for marketing natural products and handicrafts, connecting producers directly with consumers, and encouraging knowledge exchange among participants.
Visitors can enjoy a diverse program combining official and community elements, including folkloric performances, traditional Jordanian dance troupes, poetry readings, musical performances, and family-friendly activities with special shows for children. A large bazaar and traditional market feature participants from across the Kingdom, supporting local production and traditional crafts.
Supporting the Local Economy and Empowering Families
Umm Mahmoud, one of the women who participates annually, prepares traditional pastries made from khobbeizeh, spinach, sorrel, and other wild herbs harvested from the Valley.
Ayat Al-Awamleh notes that, like many women producers, she takes advantage of every opportunity to showcase her products to help meet daily living needs amid challenging economic conditions. The festival, she says, offers a rare chance to sell directly to customers—an opportunity not available during the rest of the year.
Similarly, 50-year-old Umm Ali explains that the festival provides her with a valuable platform to sell plants she gathers from the fields. Previously, she sold them roadside, where many passersby were unable to stop and purchase.
Charitable associations and women’s groups also presented natural products and handmade crafts. Nadia Haddad from the Handicrafts Makers Association described the festival as a genuine opportunity for social and economic actors to exchange expertise and showcase their products. “Khobbeizeh is not merely a plant we celebrate,” she says. “It is a renewing heritage that honors the land which continually gives to us.”
Balqa Tourism Director Mahmoud Arabiyat sees the eleventh Khobbeizeh Festival as a practical model for sustainable development and community empowerment. It enables active participation in economic, tourism, and cultural activities, strengthens collective spirit and belonging, and positively impacts social and economic development in the region.
The festival also supports productive families by marketing heritage and food products, opening direct channels with visitors, improving household income, encouraging small home-based businesses, preserving traditional crafts, and stimulating tourism in the area.
Engineer Raeda Al-Awaran, Head of the Middle Shouneh Municipal Committee, emphasizes that khobbeizeh is more than an agricultural product or wild plant—it is part of popular memory and the authentic table passed down through generations. The festival, she notes, embodies Jordanian rural identity and celebrates the natural bounty of the Jordan Valley in spring.
Community Partnership and Responsibility
Arabiyat stresses that the festival attracts domestic and rural tourism while reinforcing sustainability through the use of local resources, protection of wild plants, environmental awareness, and linking tourism to authentic environmental and cultural values. The Ministry of Tourism fully supports such initiatives, viewing them as drivers of local tourism and community development.
He adds that the Sons of the Valley Foundation’s pioneering efforts in activating community work and empowering local residents make the festival a successful model of partnership between official institutions and civil society, transforming folk heritage into a genuine development opportunity benefiting all.
Al-Awaran explains that the Middle Shouneh Municipality aims through the festival to stimulate the local economy by providing a dynamic platform for productive families and rural women to showcase their handmade goods and traditional foods. This creates temporary employment opportunities, supports local income, and positions Shouneh on Jordan’s agricultural and culinary tourism map.
“We believe our role extends beyond logistics,” she says. “It includes nurturing events that strengthen community cohesion. The success of the Khobbeizeh Festival is the result of cooperation between organizers, supporting entities, and the local community, presenting a bright image of the Jordan Valley’s hospitality and innovation in utilizing natural resources.”
Invitation to Visitors and a Future Vision
Mikhael Beshrawi, Mukhtar of the town of Al-Qaa in Lebanon, described the festival as a beautiful occasion and said he traveled specifically to attend, inviting tourists and visitors to experience the unique spring atmosphere and enjoy the Valley’s bounty.
Dr. Mukhlid Barakat, Head of the Organizing Committee, stated: “We are continuously working to develop and expand the festival in the coming years so that it becomes a cultural and tourism beacon befitting the historical and geographical significance of Middle Shouneh. Khobbeizeh is a story of resilience and generosity growing from the purity of our soil.”
He added that the festival regularly dedicates activities to handicraft bazaars, plant and animal products from the region—especially those produced by women’s associations and homemakers—as well as art workshops for local school students in cooperation with the Royal Society of Fine Arts’ “Mobile Museum.” The program also includes a wide range of cultural and artistic activities set against the scenic natural landscape that characterizes the Jordan Valley during winter.
