How To Spend New Year's in Saudi Arabia

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I spent my first New Year's Eve in the Philippines last 2007. Growing up, I had no recollection of playing with "lusis" or even seeing a "Sinturon Ni Hudas" tear itself apart, much less a "Goodbye, Philippines." Nevertheless, I grew up with a phobia for anything that explodes (Long story. Next time, I'll tell), so imagine my fright as I witnessed my fist ever New Year's Eve in my adult life outside Saudi soil. To say that I was freaked out, would be an understatement.

But you all know what it's like to spend New Year's in the Philippines, or in any other country for that matter. This entry is about how I spend the New Year's in this side of the world.

1. It's QUIET. If most Asians share the belief that making loud noises on New Year's Eve will ward off evil spirits/bad luck, then they might think that Saudi Arabia is just welcoming all of them in on New Year's night. But no, it's just that it's not celebrated here. Plain and simple. Saudi Arabia is set with the Hijra calendar and they celebrate their version of the New Year during the Eid -- so we expect noise and festivities by then. But on December 31st, expect a standstill--and the people you'll find walking around the neighborhood, nonchalant.

Though from personal experience, my brother and I would collect "mga takip ng kaldero" (cooking pan covers) minutes before midnight and bang them all for at least a minute after the clock strikes twelve (along with a high jump, in a superstitious hope of growing taller in the coming year). We do it locked in our rooms of course -- and this ladies and gentlemen, is our version of a "noisy" New Year.

2. No fireworks. No exploding items. Apart from Saudi Arabia not practicing New Year's like the rest of the world does (except China maybe), traditions known to us such as igniting a "pla-pla" or setting off "kwitis" is strictly prohibited. Heck, I don't think they even sell those here. Nevertheless, witnessing a fireworks display would be nice (they do some during Eid). What me and my family used to do would be to turn on CNN and watch the fireworks display from different parts of the world on TV. Kumusta naman diba? Yep, that's New Year's in KSA for me!

3. We eat. We have round things. We throw coins. Any New Year's tradition that we can do within the confines of our house is fine, as long as it's quiet and nothing has to explode (which is really quite remote if you think about it). Food is so abundant here that we can easily get our hands on any round-shaped fruit in the market. In my family, we'd have our aunts, uncles and their families over at our place (sometimes theirs) and just be together when the new year begins (taking photos with the round fruits before eating them). One fun thing my relatives also got to teach me about Filipino New Year's tradition while growing up was the throwing of coins in different parts of the house so as to invite good fortune in the family. However, this year, it looks like the collection of halalas is scarce. I mean, we hardly get our hands on any anymore...does that mean we might end up penniless this year? I hope not. :P

4. Roam the city. Go out of town. For other OFWs who may not have the luxury of having relatives here with them, they would usually opt to be out in the town, surrounding themselves with friends, or even strangers, just so they can veer away from the lonesome feeling in their housing units--especially in this cold weather. For the all-boys crew, weekend trips to nearby cities like Jeddah and AlKhobar are at a high too, just so they can do something "new" for the New Year. Meanwhile, most ladies opt to divert themselves to the mayhem of the Sale season inside shopping malls during this time of the year. The rationale: new year=new clothes/bags/shoes. ;)

So there you have it. It's not much, but that's the usually scenario whether we like it or not. We make do with what we can here in Riyadh. It may not be no Times Square event or a Sydney Opera House fireworks display, nevertheless, a new year IS a new year -- and how we welcome it doesn't come up to par to how we eventually make the most of it.

I say do away with the whole resolutions bit -- especially if it has proven ineffective for you in the past couple of years. Just DO what you have to do -- do whatever needs to be done to make life worth living. And I'm sure, you will not regret it.

May you all have a bountiful New Year!

xoxo

Cheers!

-ec-

How HAJJ is Performed

It is a very special and holy time in the Kingdom right now as Muslims from all over the world are beginning to flock Makkah (Mecca) in honor of one of their sacred duties: the Hajj pilgrimage.

We've covered some of the basics about Ramadan and the Eid Al-Fitr holidays and now, to tell our readers about what Hajj is, The Pink Tarha thought it best to take a cue from someone who has actually performed this rite. And luckily, E's best friend, AJ has experienced Hajj first-hand and was more than happy to do a short interview:

PT: Hi AJ, Thanks for taking the time to do this.

AJ: Not a problem. :)

PT: Okay, let's get the ball rolling. We both know that Hajj is right around the corner. If you were to explain what Hajj is to someone who's never heard of it before, how would you briefly describe it?

AJ: It's one of the five obligations of all Muslims. They should perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime, if they have the means. This is a chance for Muslims to wash away all their sins.

PT: You've experienced going to Hajj, correct? Tell us how your first experience was like.

AJ: I can't remember much nung first Hajj ko. I was a little kid pa lang at madalas nakasakay ako sa shoulders ng papa ko or my other uncles na kasama kasi maiipit ako kung hindi nila ako itaas. I probably didn't do the Hajj correctly that time kasi I wore briefs, which is bawal :P How it made me feel? Excited and very tired lagi pag dating ng gabi, every day ng Hajj is an adventure. Paiba-iba kayo ng place and may time doon na we slept outdoors without any tents man lang. We always buy our food doon na cooked na since wala kami dalang lutuan. I remember almost every time na kakain kami may nagsh-share ng food nila, lalapit sayo and they'll offer you some of their food or "siwak", yung kahoy na toothbrush ng Arabs.

Photo credit to The Bridgeman Art Library

PT: What are the highlights of performing Hajj?

AJ: From what I remember, you first go to Mina to pray for one day, then the next day at sunrise you go to Mount Arafat, may mosque doon and you will pray there until sunset. Then may pupuntahan ulit na isang place (I can't remember the name) and you will pray there as well. The next day, at sunrise, you go back to Mina and collect pebbles to throw at the Stone Towers. After which, you go back to the Holy Mosque and perform "Tawaf"-- yung pagiikot sa Ka'aba, pray, drink water sa Zamzam Well, then circle between the two hills of Safa and Marwa. Once you're done with that, you could cut your hair na or shave it.

After all that, you have to go back sa Mina to throw pebbles at the Stone Towers again and pray there. This last part is similar to the retreat of Christians when they go to one place to pray, meditate, etc.

I might have missed some parts, but basically, those are the major rituals na ginagawa.

PT: What does one learn (or gain) from performing Hajj?

AJ: You'll learn a lot aside from the obvious spiritual gain. If you're performing Hajj, its like you're in a different world with a different set of rules. Mas valuable doon yung mga ginagawa mong mabuti kaysa how you look, etc.

An Islamic trinket portraying a picture of Makkah during Hajj.

PT: Should a fellow Muslim not go to Makkah during Hajj, is there any alternative he/she should do to coincide with the occasion?

AJ: You could fast, parang Ramadan rin yung time na to eh, where when you do good deeds, its reward is multiplied.

PT: Why do pilgrims wear white "towels" and some even have their heads and beards shaven? What is its significance?

AJ: The towel is a way to show the equality between Muslims. Shave their hair? It's not really compulsary,. You could just have it cut while some other people say na kahit plucking three strands of your hair will do pero I have mine cut na lang to be sure. The significance here is that you show that your submission to God is more important than how you look to other people.

PT: Are women segregated in the activities? Do the women also go around the Ka'aba?

AJ: I haven't heard of a woman going to Hajj alone, normally may kasama siyang family or isang group sila na puro babae. If may family, then they can be with their family while doing some of the Hajj activities but not all. Kasi, meron ibang activities na hiwalay talaga yung babae at lalake like praying. Then you can just meet up ulit afterwards. Yes, naglilibot rin yung babae sa Ka'aba. They can do this with their families by their side.

Muslim women gathered in prayer.

PT: You've been really helpful. Thank you for taking the time AJ. May you have a blessed Hajj.

AJ: You are most welcome.

Hajj also provides a 5-7 day holiday for most of the public and private sectors, which means most of us are on vacation around this time. The celebration after the Hajj period is called the Eid Al-Adha. More on that on our later entries. Meanwhile, as expats, let us enjoy the non-working holidays ahead and may it be a fruitful one!