It has different names in different countries apparently:
Oman = Qaranqasho
Other gulf countries = Gerge'aan
Iraq = Majina
& so on.. However, the way is similar of celebrating it.
Why is it Islamic occasion?
I'm assuming you all know prophet Mohammed (PBUH). He had one daughter sayeda 'Fatima', who was married to his cousin imam 'Ali'.
& on the 15th of Ramadan, Prophet Mohammed's first grandson (sayeda 'Fatima's first son) was born: Imam 'Hassan'.
Imam: in this context means a Muslim leader at that time.
So because of this occasion Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) gave sweets to his neighbors and friends, as gesture of happiness.
Also, I thought of letting you know of the Arabic calendar, as they differ and have no relation to the Gregorian/Julian calendar.
* Arabic calendar is as follows:
1- Muharam
2- Safar
3- Rabi' el-Awal
4- Rabi' el-Thani
5- Jumada el oola
6- Jumada el-thania
7- Rajab
8- Shaban
9- Ramadan
10- Shawal
11- Tho el-qa'eda
12- Tho el-Hijja
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So back to our main topic, Qaranqasho which is on the 15th of Ramadan (but celebrated on the 14th eve), what really happens, or used to happen since I haven't seen anything like it happening this time:
Kids in the neighborhood gather, and they go to each house, ring the bell, and sing some sort of a cute song where they're asking for candy, then people would give them candies\sweets.
So it's like Halloween, but a very cute one with no costumes.
A few years back when kids came to our place, I'd make them sing first, then give them sweets.
What I've noticed this year is that most people do it for the social media and pictures, no more kids going around the neighbors and singing. Also, there are those troublemakers who dress like women apparently and dance taking advantage of a holly day, a cute celebration to just make a mess, which I totally dislike. Why ruin a beautiful tradition?
Then there are those people who celebrate literally every christian\hindu occassion but come and say 'Haram' on Qaranqasho. Wow at these people I pray god show you the right path and give you lots of happiness so you'd stop giving us your misery.
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Okay, so here are some of the pictures I've taken during our celebration to it:
on the actual day which was 3 days ago
This is what my parents gave me & Luj
This is within soor Lawatya (Lawaty is my last name, we have whole bunch of people in the tribe and they used to live here once upon a time, now it's still filled with old houses that no one lives unless its Muharam the first month because we then come daily here to attend lectures\activities, yeah and it has our mosque and matam, the place we attend in order to listen to the lecture or participate in the activities.]
One good thing I've noticed, Lawatya most of time donate blood upon occasions, and for this occasion, there were blood bank buses in front of the Soor.
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The reason why I posted this late [like I said Qaranqasho was 3 days ago] is coz we were gathered at our house, and my aunts and mom got qaranqasho gifts for the kids & I wanted to include the pictures of today as well.
Remember how I wrote above I made kids sing before I gave them candies? Mom did the same to us so we went outside, and entered the house singing Qaranqasho
I got this yay! Filled with childhood sweets, I feel very happy and nostalgic at the sight of it. SO CUTE!
I just realized I didn't take as much videoes and pictures as I expected since the rest is too revealing, I don't think my other family members would agree on posting them. Anyway, so you know we do have happy occasions that I feel are underrated.
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