Cars | Culture | Education | Finance | Fun | Homes | Legal | Religion | Travel

Muslim feast celebrations reflect cultural diversity - Feature

Posted : Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:36:03 GMT
By : DPA
Category : Religion (General)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
Religion General News | Home
Cairo - The Arab world's clergy may indulge in a theological squabble over the beginning and end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Various moon sightings continue to be a divisive issue and a way of asserting sovereignty and status of the religious authority in every country.

Millions of ordinary Muslims, nevertheless, do not seem to be bothered by this minor issue. They have a unity of purpose: to celebrate and feel good despite economic hardships in some countries and violence in others.

Festivities, known as Eid al-Fitr, mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. They begin with an early morning prayer that bring together Muslims from across social class, ethnic and sectarian divides.

Prayer may be unifying but cultural diversity is reflected in the way Muslims celebrate the Eid.

In countries like Egypt and Jordan, visiting graves of beloved ones is a centuries-old tradition. Meanwhile, in Tunisia, young suitors are expected to pay a symbolic visit to their would-be in- laws during the Eid. As a token of love, they give away expensive presents, such as jewels and perfume.

Tribal dancing is a feature of Eid festivities in the southwest of Saudi Arabia on the border with Yemen. The local population gather to perform a folkloric dance in which swords are used.

This men-only dance marked in the distant past a declaration of war.

In the Arab world, food tradition during the festivities is as varied as the different meals served at Christmas in different parts of Europe.

Tunisians eat salted fish that makes them drink a lot of water as a compensation for the drink-free month of Ramadan.

In Saudi Arabia, families congregate in tents where a traditional dish of meat, rice and nuts is served.

In Egypt a special cake sprinkled with sugar is considered the Eid delicacy.

Just like Christmas shopping in the West, Eid shopping is part of the celebrations, especially children's clothes.

But the economic divide between many Arabs is strongly felt during Eid.

Many Arabs have to reach deep in their pockets to finance Eid consumer needs and suffer the consequences of their seasonal shopping for months to come.

Many Iraqi families maybe among those. But undeterred by the pinch of economic hardships and deadly bouts of violence, Iraqis are tempted by markets buzzing with life and imported goods.

The tradition, known across the Arab world, of giving out money to children may be a boost to the ailing finances of many families.

Copyright DPA

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : Muslim feast celebrations reflect cultural diversity - Feature
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader


Related News

Catholic bishop says no communion for Kennedy over health reform
Washington - A spat between Congressman Patrick Kennedy and a Catholic bishop over health care reform boiled up again on Sunday after revelations that the bishop had instructed priests not to give him communion. Kennedy, whose father, Senator Ted Ken...

Pope meets with Anglican head over Vatican overtures
Rome - Pope Benedict XVI met with the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, on Saturday in Rome to discuss the Catholic Church's overtures to Anglicans. In their cordial talks in the Vatican, Williams and Benedict sp...

Russian Orthodox priest gunned down in own church
Moscow - A prominent priest in the Russian Orthodox church has been shot dead in his own Moscow church, reported the Interfax news agency on Friday. Daniil Syssoyev, 35, was known as an active missionary. Authorities have not ruled out religious moti...

Patriarch buried, divided church faces challenges - Feature
Belgrade - Tens of thousands of Serbs gathered in Belgrade Thursday for the burial of the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle, a former monk who leaves behind feuding bishops and an uncertain fight for the church's top post. During...

Dalia Lama plays down rumours of ill health on Italy trip
Rome - The Dalai Lama on Wednesday denied reports that he is suffering from cancer, but admitted that his eventual passing would represent a blow for the Tibetan cause. The Tibetan people's respect towards me is very strong and my death would be a s...

Saudi preachers asked to keep sermons short amid swine flu fears
Riyadh - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs has instructed Muslim preachers to keep their sermons short over fears that the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, might spread in crowded mosques. Reducing the duration of typically long Frid...

Serbs pay respects to late Serbian Orthodox patriarch Pavle
Belgrade- Thousands of people on Monday paid their respects to late Serbian Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Pavle. The patriarch's body was placed on display in an open coffin at Belgrade's main Saborna Church on Sunday evening. It will remain ther...

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 

More Religion (General) News click here | Travel Guide
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases

 


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.