ISALC: ESL 382: Computer Applications

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Culture Capsules: People, Places, and Processes Hamad Al Darmaki and Tung Hung Chen

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Eid-Al-Fitr
Hamad Al Darmarki

Eid-Al-Fitr is the holiday that comes at the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is a special month of the year for Muslims. All Muslims fast during this month. They can't eat or drink from sunrise until sunset each day or have sexual relations for the whole month. It is a month when Muslims try to clean and purify their bodies and their minds. It is a month when people try to spend as much time reading the Holy Quran.

Eid-Al-Fiter lasts three days. In the first morning, people wake up and put on new clothes. Muslims eat sweets and desserts before the Eid prayer. All the men listen to Khutbah or speech in the mosque. Kutba is given by Imam (religious leader) and he talks about Eid and Ramadam. Also he talk about Prophet Mohammed(salla ALLAHualaihi wa sallam, i.e., may the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him). They are the Arabic words we always say when we mention our prophet of God.

Some women go to the mosque and some stay home to prepare food. After the prayer, Muslims give children and poor people, who come by the house, gifts and money. People visit other family and friends. The first day is the best of the three days. Some people visit the president of the UAE HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan and say " Eid Mubark". Eid Mubark means "blessed Eid". On the day of Eid, Muslims make special food for visitors and family. There are many kinds of food on the day of Eid because Eid_-Al-Fitr is a day of thanksgiving for Muslims who spent the month of Ramadan in fasting. Students and workers take time off from school and work. Muslims have types different of clothes for men and women. The men always wear white clothes called "Kandorh" and, over their head, they put a round cap, called "gahfih." The women wear different clothes, and on Eid they wear a special "thoub." The whole happy day is normally spent in dancing, singing and playing. Eid is one of the must important holidayes for Muslims. It not only is celebrated in Arabic countries, but all over the world. It is celebrated in the U.S. and former President Clinton hosted the first Eid -Al-Fitr party at the White House. I like Eid-Al-Fitr because we have a lot of fun such as visiting family, eating different kinds of food and playing.

The Chinese New Year is the most important and happiest holiday of the year for Chinese and some other Asian people. In this holiday, families and friends always get together to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new. There were three weeks of celebration in the traditional Chinese community, but it only lasts for one week now. There are many interesting and special activities and events in the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year does not fall on the same date each year, because the date of the Chinese New Year depends on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which is based on the moon's cycles. The Chinese New Year is always between late January and mid February.

During the Chinese New Year's celebration, people have many traditional activities. The Chinese believe that they should do these traditional activities if they want to have a nice whole year. For example, they clean their house, pay off debts, buy new clothes, paint their house and windows and get a new haircut. These activities mean a new life and a new start.

On the Chinese New Year's Eve, the New Year's Eve dinner¹ is a very important thing. Chinese families come together for a celebration dinner. This custom is called "surrounding the hearth". Both children and adults eat together. The dinner is the best if eaten slowly and tasting each dishes. There must be several dishes on the New Year's Eve dinner, such as yearlong vegetables, chicken, fish, clams, New Year cakes and carrots. In my family, my mother always makes 10 or 11 kinds of dishes in the New Year Eve's dinner. I like whole dishes of my mother cooking, but my favorite dishes are New Year cakes and yearlong vegetables because they are only cooked in this date.

Other interesting things about the Chinese New Year are Red Packet, Red Couplets, the Lion Dance and fireworks. First, Red Packet² is every child's love at Chinese New Year. Adults always put some money into a red packet and give it to children and elderly people. The symbolic giving of the money represents a wish for luck and wealth in the coming year. Second, Red Couplets ³are one of the main forms in the Chinese New Year. Red Couplets are Chinese good luck sayings written on red paper and decorated on the walls and doors. Third, the Lion Dance⁴ is the greatest event for celebrating Chinese New Year. The lion is a popular symbol for Chinese. Its symbol is good luck and strength. In the Chinese New Year, some people dress up the lion clothes, and dance on the streets. They bring good luck to the houses or businesses when the Lion dances visit. Forth, Chinese like to shoot fireworks in Chinese New Year. The symbolism is that the noise of the fireworks is supposed to scare away bad things and wake up the dragon that will fly into the sky to bring the spring. As you can see, there are many interesting activities for celebrating the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday for the Chinese. There are many traditional activities and events in this date. Making new things, the New Year's Eve Dinner, Red Packet, Red Couplets, the Lion Dance and fireworks are important and interesting activities. In my childhood, I liked the Chinese New Year more much than now because I should give Red Packet to children and elderly people now, and nobody wants to give money to me. But if someone asks me, "What is you favorite holiday?" I will say, "It is the Chinese New Year." I believe All Chinese like the Chinese New Year.

*a QuickTime movie of a lion dance (file size 2.2MB)

1. http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/html_e/dinner.htm

2. http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/new_year/red_packets.html

3.http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/new_year/couplets.html

4.http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/new_year/liondance.html

We are talking about a holiday in the UAE and Taiwan. In the UAE, we decided on Eid-Al-Fitr. In Taiwan, we decided on the Chinese New Year. Then, we discovered some similar and different things between the Eid-Al-Fitr and the Chinese New Year. We believe they are the most important holiday in our own countries.

There are some similar things between the Eid-Al-Fitr and the Chinese New Year. First, the Eid-Al-Fitr and Chinese New Year are the most important and happiest holiday in our own country. Second, we both have our own special food and activities for the celebration of these two holidays. Next, families and friends always get together during the holiday. Finally, adults always give money to the children and elderly people on both of our holidays. We have the similar customs for the celebration the Eid-Al-Fitr and the Chinese New Year.

There are some different things between Eid-Al-Fiter and the Chinese New Year. In the U.A.E before Eid-Al-Fiter Muslims have Ramadan, and all Muslims fasting, but in Taiwan Chinese don't have to do before the Chinese New Year. Another difference is in Taiwan people give money in a red packet, but in the U.A.E Muslims give money with a letter or by hand.

We believe both Eid-Al-Fiter and the Chinese New Year are the happiest holidays in our countries. Therefore, if you have a chance to visit the UAE and Taiwan during these two holidays, I hope you can enjoy and like these holidays with us.

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