The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.: Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments
General
The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.: Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
Early in the first morning, on each of these festivals, the Muslim is
required to perform a lustration of his whole person, as on the mornings
of Friday; and on the first morning of the Minor Festival, he should
break his fast with a few dates or some other light food; but on the
Great Festival, he abstains from food until he has acquitted himself of
the religious duties now to be mentioned. Soon after sunrise, on the
first day of each festival, the men, dressed in new or in their best
clothes, repair to the mosque, or to a particular place appointed for
the performance of the prayers of the 'Eed. On going thither, they
should repeat, frequently, "God is most great!"--this, on the Minor
Festival, they should do inaudibly: on the other, aloud. The
congregation, having assembled, repeat the prayers of two rek'ahs; after
which, the Khaṭeeb recites a khuṭbeh; _i. e._ an exhortation and a
prayer. On each of these festivals, in the mosque, or place of prayer,
and in the street, and at each other's houses, friends congratulate and
embrace one another; generally paying visits for this purpose; and the
great receive visits from their dependants. The young, on these
occasions, kiss the right hand of the aged; and servants or dependants
do the same to their masters or superiors, unless the latter be of high
rank, in which case they kiss the end of the hanging sleeve, or the
skirt of the outer garment. Most of the shops are closed, excepting
those at which eatables and sweet drinks are sold; but the streets are
filled with people in their holiday clothes.
On the Minor Festival, which, as it terminates an arduous fast, is
celebrated with more rejoicing than the other,[139] servants and other
dependants receive presents of new articles of clothing from their
masters or patrons; and the servant receives presents of small sums of
money from his master's friends, whom, if they do not visit his master,
he goes to congratulate; as well as from any former master, to whom he
often takes a plateful of kaḥks. These are sweet cakes, or biscuits, of
an annular form, composed of flour and butter, with a little 'ajameeyeh
(which is a thick paste consisting of butter, honey, a little flour, and
some spices) inside. They are also often sent as presents on this
occasion by other people. Another custom required of the faithful on
this festival is the giving of alms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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