Today is the first day of Eid Al Adha, a holiday celebrated here for 4 days. Here is a really good link that tells you what and why Muslims celebrate:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/eid-al-adha-2011-dates-customs_n_1028563.html
At school on Thursday, our last day before the Eid Al Adha break we had a special assembly. During the assembly gifts and candy were handed out to the teachers, and the children were thrown candy, piñata style. Here is a picture of two of the sweet treats I received. The little boy decoration depicts how the men dress for the Hajj. The candy on a stick with Arabic says something like, "Blessings be upon you this Eid and always".
When we went to class there were only 5 kids in my class (4-3) and about 11 kids in the other class (4-4). My arabic teacher suggested we combine them and I teach them in the morning 3 periods and she'd take them in the afternoon. I thought that was a really nice gesture as I was sure
they would be totally wild after lunch break. So I started the morning with puzzles on animals found in the Qur'an and a multiplication coloring sheet. Keep it easy and fun, right? Well, I had no party planned because we were told no parties. All of the sudden, about 30 minutes before lunch one of my girls whipped out two large containers, both still somehow piping hot. One had a macaroni dish and the other had small fritter type nuggets. She proudly informed me that she and her older sister made these at home and they were for the class. I told her we had no plates, spoons, napkins . . . she stared at me oddly. She said, "No need spoon Miss Mary, we share". The photo shows our classroom party - they all sit around the pots and share. Of course each girl only used her right hand. After about half of each pot was gone the girls looked at me and said, "Miss Mary, why you no eat? You must eat!" So, do you think I did? If you say yes, you are right. It is rude not to accept food if offered. So I dug my right hand in, grabbed a bit and ate. It was GOOD!
Finally I opened the gift, which was given to me by the Islamic Education teachers. Can you guess what it was? If you guessed a copy of the Qur'an, a book about understanding Islam and a Pashmina scarf to cover my head, you are correct. A very thoughtful gift, but will it be awkward when I don't convert? I sure hope not.
Now I'm ready for a break after lunch, and the announcement was made that because there were so few girls in school they were going home. I am pretty sure my Arabic teacher, who volunteered to take the girls in the afternoon knew that would happen. Oh well, at least I got the joy of a feast with my girls. In the next few days I will have an extra long weekend, so I will take a trip to Dubai and one to Oman. Look for posts and pictures about each.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/eid-al-adha-2011-dates-customs_n_1028563.html
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| Home made cookies and a chocolate treat on a stick |
At school on Thursday, our last day before the Eid Al Adha break we had a special assembly. During the assembly gifts and candy were handed out to the teachers, and the children were thrown candy, piñata style. Here is a picture of two of the sweet treats I received. The little boy decoration depicts how the men dress for the Hajj. The candy on a stick with Arabic says something like, "Blessings be upon you this Eid and always".
When we went to class there were only 5 kids in my class (4-3) and about 11 kids in the other class (4-4). My arabic teacher suggested we combine them and I teach them in the morning 3 periods and she'd take them in the afternoon. I thought that was a really nice gesture as I was sure
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| Our Class Eid Al Adha Party |
Finally I opened the gift, which was given to me by the Islamic Education teachers. Can you guess what it was? If you guessed a copy of the Qur'an, a book about understanding Islam and a Pashmina scarf to cover my head, you are correct. A very thoughtful gift, but will it be awkward when I don't convert? I sure hope not.
Now I'm ready for a break after lunch, and the announcement was made that because there were so few girls in school they were going home. I am pretty sure my Arabic teacher, who volunteered to take the girls in the afternoon knew that would happen. Oh well, at least I got the joy of a feast with my girls. In the next few days I will have an extra long weekend, so I will take a trip to Dubai and one to Oman. Look for posts and pictures about each.
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