UAE | Heritage and Culture
Slew of celebration plans
The act of giving and spending time with family is essential during the period
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 November 27, 2009
Abu Dhabi: "Gifting is very much a part of Eid celebrations. Doesn't matter what you give, but it is the true essence of giving that matters," said Mahmoud Al Shaikh, a Jordanian engineer, residing in the UAE for five years.
Al Shaikh said that this Eid is very special to him, as it is the first one he is spending with his four-month old daughter.
"We are travelling to Jordan to be with our family so gifts are definitely a must-buy. I bought gold for my mother and perfume for my father. Also, clothes and chocolates for everyone."
Gold and perfume are the two most common Eid gifts for family, according to him. The family has been preparing during the last week to ensure the festival is enjoyed to the maximum, he said.
"Men are less fortunate when it comes to Eidiya [money given during Eid usually to non-earning members of the family like children]. It is children and women who get the most from the occasion," he said.
"It [Eidiya] could be anything from coins to notes, depending on the status of the family," Al Shaikh said.
Awatef Mansour, a Syrian mother of four, has been living in the UAE for 15 years, she says that her family follows a mixed culture with both Syrian and Emirati traditions. "Favourite foods include kebbah, kousa and so on. But I also make biryani, UAE-style."
More from UAE Heritage & Culture
More from UAE
Latest news
- MasterChef's George Calombaris coming to UAE
- Dubai Appeal Court upholds death sentence
- Businesswoman denies making indecent gesture
- 369 truckers fined for traffic violations
- Al Ain Zoo: Four eland antelopes make debut
- Three men held for robbery in Sharjah
- Street lights needed
- Fund to settle unpaid loans of UAE citizens
- Dubai civic body trims costs to achieve surplus
- Green idea: Tinted solution
- Fedex delivers when it comes to its employees
- A tale of two books: Unsung and unread
- Signing 1,951 books in single session
- Valentine's Day: The cost of love
- Viber still working in the UAE
Community Reports
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
-
Closing U-turns creates new risks
Authorities urged to reopen closed U-turns or construct new ones on Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi Road in Sharjah
