Tunisia has the charisma of the ancient civilization perfectly blended with modern European ideas thus making it a very liberal Islamic country. The streets of Tunisia unfold the warm and friendly people who pride not only on their history but also lead their life with cosmopolitan standards. Witness the diversity in the culture while exploring.

Though Tunisia was settled by Berbers, the nomads, the present day Tunisia is complete blend of various civilizations from the ancient history to the modern times. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Europeans have left there impression in the culture and the tradition of the country. And modern Tunisia reflects the influence of these civilizations in every aspect of life.

People, Language & Religion- Tunisia is largely comprised of Berbers. Tunisians follow Sunni School of Islam which is the official religion of the country. Nevertheless, in some Tunisian cities like Tunis and Djerba, there are small communities of Jews and Roman Catholics. Some Tunisians visit the graves of the holy men or marabouts for aid and also believe on evil spirits called Jinn. To battle the jinns, they wear amulets which have the verses of the Holy Koran. They also wear another charm “the right hand of Fatima.”

The national language of Tunisia is Arabic. Due its strong French connections, the other language spoken in the country is French which is taught in every school from the age of 6. Now, English is also being promoted in the schools of Tunisia. French is usually used in the sciences, the military, international trade and foreign diplomacy.

Family Life- Earlier Tunisians used to live in joint families in tightly knit communities. Children were raised by the entire family. Marriages were also done with the mutual understanding between the families of bride and the groom. But after the French occupation, there was a great break-down in the structure of traditional Tunisian families. The trend of nuclear families prevails in the city and rural areas of Tunisia. The role of the women has also changed with the changing of time.

When compared to other Islamic countries, Tunisia is the most liberal country. Tunisian women enjoy maximum freedom when compared to women of Islamic states. Earlier the role of the woman was to raise children and take care of home and family. Polygamy has been outlawed in Tunisia since 1956. At present, Tunisian women have equal legal power when compared to men with regard to inheritance, child custody, divorce and property ownership.

Social Life- When a person meets a man or a woman, he usually greets them by shaking their hands. In the formal situation, people use titles in French titles like Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle, Docteur and Professeur and often Arabic titles like Sayyid, Sayyida and Anisa to greet men, women and girls, respectively. If people meet after a long time, they usually kiss cheek and shake hands with each other. The relationship between a male and female is governed by the Islamic code of conduct. Therefore, they usually do not display any affection in the public or date before getting married.

Clothing- The clothing in Tunisia varies with the region, though much is influenced by Western-style of clothing. However, traditional dresses are still worn in the villages and especially among elderly people. The traditional Tunisian dress for the women is “Sifsari” which is an outer garment with loose folds and a head covering worn over western outfits. In the rural areas, women wear “Mellia” which falls across the head and shoulders. Tunisian men wear Chehia, a type of head-dress made of red or brown felt which is either rounded or flat on the top. Other outfit worn by Tunisian men is baggy pants and jalabiyya which is a long dress-like garment.

Hammams & Cafes- The trend of public bath-houses which is called Hammams is still prominent in Tunisia and is seen as one of the best way to relax and socialize with other people. Every town of Tunisia features a hammam, separate for both the sex. Other place to socialize is the cafes which becomes a hub for men in the evening. Men flock to the cafes and smoke chicas or water pipes, play cards and chat.