September 11, 2010
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Baghdad’s local residents received Eidul-Fitr (Ramadan Bairam) with habits and traditions they have inherited for tens of years.
Housewives prepare sweets and pasta, namely the kleisha, and children’s sways, swings and see-saws are in place in squares and popular areas.
“The Eid has its own special traditions. On the Eid eve we made different types of kleisha (cookies) like the dates kleisha and the pistachio kleisha,” Umm Amin told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
At the entrance of a popular store stood a group of boys dressed up to the nines in the new Eid clothes.
“I’ll go to the sways and I am certainly going to have a good time. I did not even sleep last night waiting for this lovely day to come,” said nine-year-old Ahmad.
Ahmad’s mother was a bit concerned, notwithstanding.
“I am following my son everywhere. I have to make sure he is all right as security conditions are unstable yet,” she told Aswat al-Iraq.
Exchanged visits during the Eid is still an observed habit among the Baghdad families.
Ghassan Muhammad, a 30-year-old newly-wed young man, said this Eid is his first one after months of marriage.
“I am going to take my wife to my folks’ house to celebrate the Eid with my father and mother,” said Muhammad.
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