ExChanging gifts is a speCial tradition
A 24-year-old Sudanese expat in Dubai, Ayman Zain, still can’t forget his first Eid memory in the UAE. “My first memory of spending Eid in the UAE was when I was 15 years old and my whole family gathered around at my aunt’s place to celebrate,” Zain, who is currently a university student, said.
“I remember wearing my traditional Sudanese ‘Jalabeya’. After offering the Eid prayer, my family and I went to visit the grave of my grandfather to pay our respects, which later on became our tradition even since.”
He said that Eid was a special one for him because it was the first time he got to meet each member of his large family as many of them lived abroad.
“Spending Eid in the UAE is special for me because it makes me feel at home,” he said. “I admire the cultural aspects of Eid in the UAE when watching many traditional Emirati events such as the ‘Yola’ dance. There is so much to do and see. I also love the spirit that locals have in celebrating the day by giving sweets to the children.”
Zain said that exchanging gifts is also a special tradition for his family during Eid. And he remembers the kind of gifts he got during his first Eid in the country when he was young.
“When I was a kid, I used to get gifts such as toys or a trip to an amusement park, but now that I’m older, my parents give me money as a gift,” he said. “Last Eid, I surprised my brother with a watch as a gift and he was so happy about it that he bought me a wallet in exchange.” sarwat@khaleejtimes.com