[edit]
Cirebon itself is known as Grage in the Cirebon dialect of Javanese language, which came from the words "Negara Gede", meaning "Great Kingdom." As a port city, Cirebon attracts visitors and settlers from elsewhere in Indonesia and from other nations as well. Cirebon culture was described as Java Pasisiran (coastal) culture, similar to the cultures of Banten, Pekalongan, and Semarang, with notable mixtures of Sundanese, Chinese, Arabic-Islamic, and European influences.
Arts and crafts[edit]
A Megamendung batik motif from Cirebon.
Batik textiles from Cirebon, especially Cirebon batik with vivid colors with motifs and patterns, that demonstrate Chinese and local influences, are well known. Chinese influences can be seen in Cirebon's culture, most notably the Cirebon batik Megamendung pattern that resembles Chinese cloud imagery. The Trusmi area is the production center of Cirebon batik. Cirebon Glass Painting is another aspect of Cirebon arts and crafts. The imagery in glass painting is usually derived from wayang theme to Islamic calligraphy.
Performing arts[edit]
Cirebon mask dance
The Tari Topeng Cirebon, or Cirebon mask dance, is a dance style peculiar to the city. Topeng Cirebon mask dance, inspired by Javanese Panji cycles is one of notable Cirebon traditional dance and quite famous within Indonesian dances.
Cirebon culture is also influenced by Islamic Middle Eastern culture, such as the Burokan tradition where people exhibit the image of buraq — traditionally made from the bamboo frame and paper skin, or other materials — in processions around the village accompanied with music. The traditions of the bamboo statues borne in these processions are similar to Sundanese Sisingaan, Betawi Ondel-ondel, or Balinese Ogoh-ogoh processions, yet differ in their Islamic theme. Burokan are usually held during festive occasions such as circumcision or marriage, and are accompanied by popular Cirebon folk songs, such as tarling.
Tarling is a musical tradition reminiscent of Bandung's kecapi suling music with except that it features guitar, suling (bamboo flute) and voice. The name derived from gitar (guitar), and suling (flute).
Sports[edit]
Cirebon is the home town of the PSGJ Cirebon football team, the club plays in the Liga Nusantara.
Another team, Cirebon Football Club, team also plays in the Liga Nusantara is based in the Bima stadium Cirebon. Other popular sports in Cirebon include Futsal.
Court culture[edit]
The four remaining palaces (kraton) of the Sultanate of Cirebon are Kraton Kasepuhan (built 1447), Kraton Kanoman (built 1678), Kraton Kaprabonan (built 1696) and Kraton Kacirebonan (built 1808), all run as cultural institutions to preserve Cirebonese culture. Each kraton still holds their own traditional ceremonies and have become the patrons of Cirebonese arts.
The flag of the former Cirebon Sultanate is called Macan Ali ("Panther of Ali"), with Arabic calligraphy arranged to resemble a panther or tiger; this indicates Islamic influence, and is also a reference to the tiger banner of the Sundanese Hindu King Siliwangi of Pakuan Pajajaran. The royal lineage of Cirebon is still well-respected and held in high prestige among the people of Cirebon, although it no longer holds any political power.
The royal carriage of Kasepuhan's Singa Barong and Kanoman's Paksi Naga Liman carriage both resemble the chimera of three animals: eagle, elephant, and dragon. These symbolize Indian Hinduism, Arab Islam, and Chinese influences. The images of Macan Ali, Singa Barong, and Paksi Naga Liman are common motifs in Cirebonese batik.
Cuisine[edit]
As a coastal city, Cirebon's main industry is fishery. Its products include terasi (shrimp paste), petis, krupuk udang (shrimp crackers) and various salted fish. Cirebon is famous for its high quality salted fish, such as jambal roti, juhi (salted cuttlefish), rebon, and ebi (dried small shrimp). These products are often sought by visitors, especially Indonesian domestic tourists and visitors from other cities, as oleh-oleh (food souvenirs).
Cirebon is also known for its local cuisines and delicacies, such as empal gentong (offal curry), mie koclok (chicken noodle soup with coconut milk), nasi lengko (rice with bean sprouts, fried tofu, and fried tempeh, topped with peanut sauce and soy sauce), nasi jamblang (rice of various side dishes), tahu gejrot (fried tofu with ground garlic, chili, and shallot, topped with thin and sweet soy sauce), tahu petis (dry fried tofu served with petis dip sauce), tahu tek-tek (fried tofu topped with peanut sauce and mixed with vegetables), ayam panggang (barbecued chicken), and docang (lontong with sour vegetable soup).
