Traditions+and+Holidays

**Holidays:** 2010

January 1: Independence Day January 7: Coptic Christmas February 26: Al-Mawlid Al Nabawai (Birth of the Prophet) April 28: Coptic Easter June 30: Revolution Day September 11: Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) November 17: Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) December 7: Islamic New Year December 25: Christmas Day

**Prophet Muhammad's Birthday** This holiday celebrates the birthday of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It is fixed as the 12th day of the month of Rabi I in the Islamic calendar. //Mawlid// means birthday of a holy figure and //al-Nabi// means prophet. The day is commemorated with recollections of Muhammad's life and significance. Fundamentalist Muslims, such as the Wahhabi sect, do not celebrate it. ** The Celebration concluding Ramadan ** Ramadan, the month of fasting, ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (Eid al-Adha is the other). At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family. A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques.

What is Eid al-Adha
At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha (//Festival of Sacrifice//).

What does Eid al-Adha commemorate?
During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham. The month of Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic liturgical year. The [|Islamic year] begins on the first day of Muharram, and is counted from the year of the [|Hegira] (//anno Hegirae//) the year in which Muhammad emigrated from [|Mecca] to [|Medina] (A.D. July 16, 622). The Islamic new year is celebrated relatively quietly, with prayers and readings and reflection upon the hegira.
 * The Islamic New Year **


 * Notes:
 * Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations.
 * During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted.
 * Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking.
 * Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself.
 * Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

**Traditions:**
 * Sudanese Weddings
 * Big ceremony.
 * Mother gives groom garland of flowers welcoming him into family.
 * Procession of ladies with candles begin the ceremony.
 * Ceremony takes place at future home.
 * Bride and groom sit next to each other under umbrella in front of the house; both heads covered with veils.
 * Umbrella symbolizes esteem and respect.
 * Sungkem ceremony
 * Bride and groom kiss parents' knees asking for forgiveness, blessing, and promising they will continue to serve their parents.
 * Upon entering new home, couple is given chicken to pull apart.
 * Similar to American tradition of the wishbone, The couple pulls apart the chicken and whoever pulls the larger piece will bring in more fortune.


 * Birthdays
 * Children in the city celebrate their birthdays, where children in the country do not.
 * Celebrated with cake and candles, pizza, and punch made from a hibiscus flower called karkady.
 * Children are only given money as gifts, not clothes or toys.
 * Celebrated with games and activites
 * The Sheep and the Hyena
 * The birthday person chooses who is the sheep and who is the hyena
 * All others form a circle around the sheep blocking out the hyena
 * Once the hyena forces entrance to the circle, he becomes the sheep, making a new hyena
 * The game ends once everyone has had a turn being the hyena.

**Sana Helwa Ya Jamil** Sana Helwa Ya Jamil Sana Helwa Ya Jamil Sana Helwa Ya ..... Sana Helwa Ya Jamil 000000
 * Happy Birthday Song - Arabic **