This week is Eid al Ahdra. Sorry, I can't remember what it means (it does match up to the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, and moves 11 days earlier in our calendar each year like Ramadan does), but what is interesting is that we do not know the exact days of it again. The new moon had to be sighted in Mecca last week to decide what day Eid was to start. Apparently, public workers are getting Thurs and Sun off. But Grace and Henry's school had already scheduled Wed and Thurs off, so I still don't know when the kids are off. It is very relaxed. In shallah. Whenever.
The area we live in, the Village, the compound of townhouses, has a Facebook page and it is decided that there will be trick or treating in the Village on Oct 31 from 6-8pm or so. So, that's the alternative way to do it - pick a day in advance. However, there was some arguing about the date and time on Facebook, so in fact it wasn't very straightforward after all.
Spot a new moon, or argue on Facebook. Two ways to choose a holiday date.
Because pumpkins are expensive, we have stolen the idea of a friend and are making papier mache pumpkins (over balloons, painted orange). I am feeling quite smug about this. That was a creative way of having Halloween over here. No Halloween parties at the English School, just a creep show party after school - presumably so anyone Muslim would not have to attend. I also find from living there that some Brits love Halloween and some hate it seeing it as a stupid way of kids begging for candy. So this whole concept of Halloween is challenged!!! Good luck to it here.
Henry attended a birthday party at McDonald's on Friday - it was just like in the US. Mother (a Pakisani woman I think) totally frazzled, children going crazy in a small room. The nationalities were mixed, but the concept was American. Henry said he would rather not go to one of these parties again - ever.
The area we live in, the Village, the compound of townhouses, has a Facebook page and it is decided that there will be trick or treating in the Village on Oct 31 from 6-8pm or so. So, that's the alternative way to do it - pick a day in advance. However, there was some arguing about the date and time on Facebook, so in fact it wasn't very straightforward after all.
Spot a new moon, or argue on Facebook. Two ways to choose a holiday date.
Because pumpkins are expensive, we have stolen the idea of a friend and are making papier mache pumpkins (over balloons, painted orange). I am feeling quite smug about this. That was a creative way of having Halloween over here. No Halloween parties at the English School, just a creep show party after school - presumably so anyone Muslim would not have to attend. I also find from living there that some Brits love Halloween and some hate it seeing it as a stupid way of kids begging for candy. So this whole concept of Halloween is challenged!!! Good luck to it here.
Henry attended a birthday party at McDonald's on Friday - it was just like in the US. Mother (a Pakisani woman I think) totally frazzled, children going crazy in a small room. The nationalities were mixed, but the concept was American. Henry said he would rather not go to one of these parties again - ever.
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