Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak

This will not be your normal, everyday mandatory post about Eid. In fact, this post will more or less talk about some strange things we do in Eid. It is rather sad to see that, apart from a few people, we do the same routines every year. Take Eid for example, we usually go to the exact same houses in just about the same order every year, and this makes it rather boring.

Every eid visit will usually go like the following, knock on someones door after arriving without invitation, then when it opens we go in and start kissing and hugging each other while joking about swine flu and how the minister told us not to kiss or hug during his speech.

One thing you must not get wrong is remembering which females are related to you and which ones arent, and the proper Jordanian way to kiss, which goes left, right, right, and usually one more right to be more annoying. You could also grow a extra spiky beard so young children who kiss you get red cheeks.

Everyone will sit down on very uncomfortable chairs or sofas - why they make chairs with wooden backs, I will never know. The topics that come up are rather strange, of course I am never part of them but I always catch a phrase or two while I am between awake and asleep.

Our family meeting that usually takes place in someones house on Eid is quite a joke. Up to twenty people are in the room at the same time and you cannot hear a thing because they are all shouting in loud voices and arguing. There isnt anywhere to sit so I usually get cramped next to a very old person who smells, or I stay standing for a quarter of an hour.

Back to topic, the ma3moul they serve is not only unhealthy but also not anywhere near edible. It usually comes coated with powdered sugar that gets on my new shirt, or tastes very bland and is extremely large. Also, the chocolates - unless from Galaxy or Quality Street or something similar, usually end up in my pocket.

At the end of my day, my pockets will be bulging and I empty them on my desk. All the chocolates will go to my younger brother, who happily eats them with their wrapper still on them. By the way, all my family - mother, brothers and sister - went to Nablus to celebrate Eid. I refused to go their and babysit a dozen children, so I stayed behind with my father.

Eid Mubarak

Revolting arabic coffee, pitiful 3ediyaat, disgusting chocolates.

Sloppy kisses from old relatives, endless visits to people you don't know.

Even old men in suites arguing whether you can invite people to weddings by text messages or phone calls.

Eid il Adha. Enjoy it. :)

Holidays Before Holidays

Some things are really strange in this world, like aliens, politicians and taxi drivers. But one thing that’s really strange is how Arabs decide their days off. Which is were my ranting all begins, when students decided that Thursday, the day before the Eid holiday which will last for more than a week, is a holiday for them as well.

There’s no problem in taking a day off, but why would anyone take off a day when you’ve got a whole week ahead of you. And just to add to that, my parents made me go to school anyway and I got bored to death, along with the other three students that came along as well, and did practically nothing.

Which asks the question, why on earth do we need holidays before holidays? The problem is that it’s grown too much its hard to stop this bad habit. My point is, there’s nothing wrong in taking a day off for some reason, but the problem is when you take a holiday for the sake of another holiday. It’s a bit like how everyone at school will come in their new clothes when we come back.

Eid, Long Ago

I can still remember Eid long ago, when I was still in London and I was probably still an infant.

It was always the same routine but it appealed to me as much as any celebration. The night before we would all be very excited and start talking about what we would be doing tomorrow, who we would visit and who would come to us.

In the morning, I would get up excited, put on my new clothes folded neatly next to my bed the day before, then wake up my brother before going downstairs - we lived in a small two floor house at that time. The living room would be decorated with tinsel and colored lights, and we sit there waiting for our parents to come down.

A few minutes later our parents would come down, my dad holding a large bag full of 'surprise' presents, and my mum holding a video camera that would already be recording. We would start opening our presents and playing with them for a while, until it was time for the prayer.

We would get in the car with my dad and off we would go to the nearby mosque. After that it we would go and visit our uncle, maybe a few visits to some other relatives or friends, invite some to dinner, and that would be it.

It'd all be over in a day. But it was rather exciting, at that young age anyway. These days, at an age of almost fifteen - just a few more days to go tfo being a super grumpy caveman - you don't really find Eid anything more than a break from school and a money gainer. Nothing that exciting compared to maybe ten years ago.

So, how was Eid when you we're young?

Celebrations & Farewells

A celebration of ma3moul.

A celebration of arabic coffee.

A celebration of chocolate.

A celebration of money.
* * * *

A farewell to fasting.

A farewell to 3azayem.

A farewell to tarawee7.

A farewell to television.

عيد مبارك و كل عام وأنتم بخير

Starting Eid In The Bathroom

I shouldn't have eaten that horrible piece of junk on an empty stomach. If I hadn't eaten it, I wouldn't be at home while everyone else was visiting my relatives.

A few minutes of hurling in the bathroom put my first Eid day to a halt. As usual, it all went on the floor of the bathroom, ruining my new jeans and socks. Now usually if someone pukes on the floor someone else would come and clean up. Except this time it was different.

I knew my mum was fed up with cleaning up after me (because it usually comes on the carpet, the sofa, the door, etc), so this time I cleaned up after myself. Kinda like soldiers who have to dig a hole to hurl into it, then cover it up again. Army style puking, eh?

Good old grandmother gave me some tea to drink, so now I feel much better. And now I'm at home alone, but I guess this has its good points. And while I'm on the subject, Eid mubarak to you all non-sick fellas.

Side Note: I haven't been posting much because of final exams, although I'm trying to make up for them this Eid.

The Repetition In Eid

Don't you all notice that we repeat the exact same cycle all the time (except on very few occasions)?

You Come To Visit Them

Ring bell a million times before they open. Wonder which men's hands you must shake first and which women you are allowed to shake hands with. Sit down, yawn and feel bored. Refuse the horrible "coffee" they serve you. Feel bored again. Try and eat the rock solid ma3moul covered in mountains of grounded sugar. Feel bored once more. Help yourself to the chocolates as you leave the house. Repeat.

They Come To Visit You

Answer the door. Greet guests. Watch people talk about politics and market prices. Serve "coffee". Get told off for not holding cups in right hand. Hearing people talking about boring subjects again. Serve your personally made rock solid ma3moul. More talking, boring as usual. Hurry after guests with chocolates. Close the door. Repeat.

Eid Mubarak To You All

I hope you have used this month well, as it only comes once a year, and you may not be alive to see it again. I hope all your good deeds in this month will be waiting for you on the Day of Judgement, multiplied many times, and your bad deeds forgiven.

Eid mubarak to you all, whether it is tommorow or after that, and remember to be easy on the ma3moul. Even if it is from Zalatimo.