Happy New Year !
On November 15, the Islamic new year was welcomed in. It's official it is now 1434.
I didn't even know there was more than one calendar in this big world of ours. In fact - here is a little tidbit of information...
Besides the Gregorian calendar that we currently use, there is also the Islamic calendar which is a lunar calendar, but other countries or faiths also use a lunar and solar calendar. I learn something new everyday.
The Islamic new year was just recently celebrated and unlike the new year celebrations that take place around the world on January 1, the Islamic new year is celebrated relatively quietly, with prayers, readings and reflection.
The short time I have been outside the United States I have learned more about other holidays and celebrations of other countries, than all the years I have been alive. It has been fun to watch the different celebrations unfold and research all the specifics about them. Another recent event I have enjoyed experiencing and learning about is the celebration of lights - the Hindu celebration of Diwali.
The holidays and celebrations I am accustomed to are not celebrated in the middle east (even though some of the retailers try hard to make the expatriates feel more at home by selling Christmas and Halloween decorations). In fact, the holidays I am used to celebrating usually slip by quietly, without a lot of notice or fanfare. Seems weird....
On Thanksgiving this year, nine families got together to celebrate. But this year, for me, it was very international. Besides all of the Americans enjoying the make shift Turkey dinner ( hard to find all the essentials), we also invited two British families, a person from Scotland, and a family from Germany. It was the first time I have been away from my family at Thanksgiving, but the amazing families I spent the day with were a great substitute.
The "biggest holiday of them all" in the United Arab Emirates is coming up on December 2 - it is National Day !
Similar to the 4 th of July in the United States,but on Steroids. Preparations are being made now with gigantic flags and lights being hung from every wall, door, building, etc. The United Arab Emirates does everything big and over the top so you can imagine the decorations and the flags that are being put up all over the city.
The picture below is a local business decorated for National Day on December 2. This is typical of businesses all over the city. The city is a glow.
I am looking forward to celebrating national day with all of the other millions of people that live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on December 2. I have heard that nothing compares to this experience. Several of our expatriate friends have said that we should stay home that day and avoid the madness, but no, not us, we will be out in the middle of it, seeing and experiencing it for ourselves. Why not ?!
This should be fun !
On November 15, the Islamic new year was welcomed in. It's official it is now 1434.
I didn't even know there was more than one calendar in this big world of ours. In fact - here is a little tidbit of information...
Besides the Gregorian calendar that we currently use, there is also the Islamic calendar which is a lunar calendar, but other countries or faiths also use a lunar and solar calendar. I learn something new everyday.
The Islamic new year was just recently celebrated and unlike the new year celebrations that take place around the world on January 1, the Islamic new year is celebrated relatively quietly, with prayers, readings and reflection.
The short time I have been outside the United States I have learned more about other holidays and celebrations of other countries, than all the years I have been alive. It has been fun to watch the different celebrations unfold and research all the specifics about them. Another recent event I have enjoyed experiencing and learning about is the celebration of lights - the Hindu celebration of Diwali.
The holidays and celebrations I am accustomed to are not celebrated in the middle east (even though some of the retailers try hard to make the expatriates feel more at home by selling Christmas and Halloween decorations). In fact, the holidays I am used to celebrating usually slip by quietly, without a lot of notice or fanfare. Seems weird....
On Thanksgiving this year, nine families got together to celebrate. But this year, for me, it was very international. Besides all of the Americans enjoying the make shift Turkey dinner ( hard to find all the essentials), we also invited two British families, a person from Scotland, and a family from Germany. It was the first time I have been away from my family at Thanksgiving, but the amazing families I spent the day with were a great substitute.
The "biggest holiday of them all" in the United Arab Emirates is coming up on December 2 - it is National Day !
Similar to the 4 th of July in the United States,but on Steroids. Preparations are being made now with gigantic flags and lights being hung from every wall, door, building, etc. The United Arab Emirates does everything big and over the top so you can imagine the decorations and the flags that are being put up all over the city.
The picture below is a local business decorated for National Day on December 2. This is typical of businesses all over the city. The city is a glow.
I am looking forward to celebrating national day with all of the other millions of people that live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on December 2. I have heard that nothing compares to this experience. Several of our expatriate friends have said that we should stay home that day and avoid the madness, but no, not us, we will be out in the middle of it, seeing and experiencing it for ourselves. Why not ?!
This should be fun !
This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic with nice pictures.HATTA MOUNTAIN SAFARI
ReplyDelete