Back to the beautiful Matn mountains
Sisters Yara and Riwa from Lebanon going home for family Eid after three years
Sisters Yara Abul Hosn, 17, and Riwa, 12, are looking forward to celebrating Eid with their grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins in their ancestral village Kalaa in the Matn mountains, which are about an hour’s drive from the Lebanese capital Beirut. The exciting thing is that the sisters will be celebrating Eid with the extended family after three years as it has coincided with their summer holidays.
Riwa spoke to Gulf News and shared some of the excitement: “My mother Rabiaa Abul Hosn is a teacher in a Sharjah school and will join us later, after Eid. But we sisters are really looking forward to this family reunion with my grandmother, uncles, aunts, cousins. In our village, neighbours and friends also join in the celebrations.”
Reminiscing about her ancestral village, Riwa said, “My sister Yara and I were born in Kalaa village and have spent many summers growing up there.
“Kalaa is an extremely picturesque, green and beautiful village in the mountains. It’s very peaceful and I have beautiful memories of playing with my cousins around the mountains, going for treks and having picnics. The neighbours are extremely friendly and my maternal grandmother loves to have all her children and extended families come home to celebrate festivals.”
The Abul Hosn clan expects a gathering of at least 20-25 family members celebrating the festivities and Riwa said she couldn’t wait to wear new clothes and receive gifts from her aunts and grandmother.
“Eid is celebrated with so much enthusiasm. The women begin cooking a day before and we cousins usually try to lend a helping hand.
“The women make roast lamb, harees, tabbouleh and some desserts, among other goodies. My grandmother makes a very delectable roast chicken and rice dish. I usually love to help in the preparation of Umm Ali, cupcakes and other desserts that are my favourites,” said Riwa.
On the day of Eid, everyone in the Abul Hosn household wakes up early.
Riwa recreated the excitement of Eid day: “We bathe, wear new clothes, offer morning prayers and exchange Eid greetings. I am very excited by the suspense around the gifts. I am not sure whether I will get a lot of new clothes or money too. After our prayers, we youngsters begin helping our aunts in the kitchen.”
Some of the happiest Eid memories she has are of being surrounded by the community in the village and her relatives. The sense of kinship, she said, evokes the most lovely emotions in her.
“The whole day is spent laughing, chatting, eating, playing, resting and then ... getting back to eating. It’s so much fun and I am really looking forward to being in my country with my loved ones.”
Eid is celebrated with so much enthusiasm ... I am excited by the suspense around the gifts [I will receive]. I am not sure whether I will get a lot of new clothes or money too.” Riwa Abul Hosn | Student