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The Flower Men of the Habala Mountains

Published August 26th, 2019 - 06:40 GMT

Did you know about the flower men of Saudi Arabia?

They have lived in the foothills of the Habala Mountains in Saudi Arabia's southern Asir province for 2,000 years. 

Habala is a small mountain village in the 'Asir province of Saudi Arabia. It was originally inhabited by a tribal community known as the "flower men" because of their custom of wearing garlands of dried herbs and flowers in their hair. In the past, the village was only accessible by rope ladder -- the name Habala comes from the Arabic word for rope.

'Flower men', a tribe of people descended from the ancient Tihama and Asir groupings and whose traditions, most strikingly the garlands of herbs and blooms they wear, date back more than two millennia. They go into the foothills of the Habala Mountains every morning in search of fresh herbs for their garlands. 

Not all were for beauty. Some men are wearing herbs in the hopes of dealing with a headache. They would use the same for colds.

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This garland is made from woven marigold heads, although most are made using fragrant wild jasmine and basil (Facebook)

This garland is made from woven marigold heads, although most are made using fragrant wild jasmine and basil (Facebook)

The flower men of the Habala Mountains are part of a tribal group that has lived in the area for more than 2,000 years (vice.com)

The flower men of the Habala Mountains are part of a tribal group that has lived in the area for more than 2,000 years (vice.com)

The men wear ornate garlands made from herbs and flowers growing wild in the foothills of the mountains (vice.com)

The men wear ornate garlands made from herbs and flowers growing wild in the foothills of the mountains (vice.com)

As well as making the men look and smell nicer, some of the garlands have a medicinal purpose and are used to cure headaches (Facebook)

As well as making the men look and smell nicer, some of the garlands have a medicinal purpose and are used to cure headaches (Facebook)

Garlands made exclusively for medicinal purposes, such as the one this man is wearing, are less pretty and stuffed with herbs (Facebook)

Garlands made exclusively for medicinal purposes, such as the one this man is wearing, are less pretty and stuffed with herbs (Facebook)

Although cooler than the desert that dominates the rest of Saudi, the mountains are hot and the herbs ward off bad smells (Facebook)

Although cooler than the desert that dominates the rest of Saudi, the mountains are hot and the herbs ward off bad smells (Facebook)

The men rarely see outsiders and locals reacted excitedly when Lafforgue first arrived, with this man calling his friends to tell them (Facebook)

The men rarely see outsiders and locals reacted excitedly when Lafforgue first arrived, with this man calling his friends to tell them (Facebook)

Flower men of Saudi Arabia (vice.com)

Flower men of Saudi Arabia (vice.com)

Many, such as this boy, can expect a future that sees them battle with encroaching tribes coming across the Yemen border (dailymail.co.uk)

Many, such as this boy, can expect a future that sees them battle with encroaching tribes coming across the Yemen border (dailymail.co.uk)

The villages are led by headsmen, usually elderly men such as this man. He has dyed his beard red to show devotion to Islam (dailymail.co.uk)

The villages are led by headsmen, usually elderly men such as this man. He has dyed his beard red to show devotion to Islam (dailymail.co.uk)

This garland is made from woven marigold heads, although most are made using fragrant wild jasmine and basil (Facebook)
The flower men of the Habala Mountains are part of a tribal group that has lived in the area for more than 2,000 years (vice.com)
The men wear ornate garlands made from herbs and flowers growing wild in the foothills of the mountains (vice.com)
As well as making the men look and smell nicer, some of the garlands have a medicinal purpose and are used to cure headaches (Facebook)
Garlands made exclusively for medicinal purposes, such as the one this man is wearing, are less pretty and stuffed with herbs (Facebook)
Although cooler than the desert that dominates the rest of Saudi, the mountains are hot and the herbs ward off bad smells (Facebook)
The men rarely see outsiders and locals reacted excitedly when Lafforgue first arrived, with this man calling his friends to tell them (Facebook)
Flower men of Saudi Arabia (vice.com)
Many, such as this boy, can expect a future that sees them battle with encroaching tribes coming across the Yemen border (dailymail.co.uk)
The villages are led by headsmen, usually elderly men such as this man. He has dyed his beard red to show devotion to Islam (dailymail.co.uk)
This garland is made from woven marigold heads, although most are made using fragrant wild jasmine and basil (Facebook)
This garland is made from woven marigold heads, although most are made using fragrant wild jasmine and basil (Facebook)
The flower men of the Habala Mountains are part of a tribal group that has lived in the area for more than 2,000 years (vice.com)
The flower men of the Habala Mountains are part of a tribal group that has lived in the area for more than 2,000 years (vice.com)
The men wear ornate garlands made from herbs and flowers growing wild in the foothills of the mountains (vice.com)
The men wear ornate garlands made from herbs and flowers growing wild in the foothills of the mountains (vice.com)
As well as making the men look and smell nicer, some of the garlands have a medicinal purpose and are used to cure headaches (Facebook)
As well as making the men look and smell nicer, some of the garlands have a medicinal purpose and are used to cure headaches (Facebook)
Garlands made exclusively for medicinal purposes, such as the one this man is wearing, are less pretty and stuffed with herbs (Facebook)
Garlands made exclusively for medicinal purposes, such as the one this man is wearing, are less pretty and stuffed with herbs (Facebook)
Although cooler than the desert that dominates the rest of Saudi, the mountains are hot and the herbs ward off bad smells (Facebook)
Although cooler than the desert that dominates the rest of Saudi, the mountains are hot and the herbs ward off bad smells (Facebook)
The men rarely see outsiders and locals reacted excitedly when Lafforgue first arrived, with this man calling his friends to tell them (Facebook)
The men rarely see outsiders and locals reacted excitedly when Lafforgue first arrived, with this man calling his friends to tell them (Facebook)
Flower men of Saudi Arabia (vice.com)
Flower men of Saudi Arabia (vice.com)
Many, such as this boy, can expect a future that sees them battle with encroaching tribes coming across the Yemen border (dailymail.co.uk)
Many, such as this boy, can expect a future that sees them battle with encroaching tribes coming across the Yemen border (dailymail.co.uk)
The villages are led by headsmen, usually elderly men such as this man. He has dyed his beard red to show devotion to Islam (dailymail.co.uk)
The villages are led by headsmen, usually elderly men such as this man. He has dyed his beard red to show devotion to Islam (dailymail.co.uk)

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