Diwan Athlab in Eid

Dear listeners, peace be with you and welcome. Thank you for joining me, Saad AlMatrafi, in a new episode of Diwan Athlab during Eid.

With us today is Mr. Thamer Abdul Karim, a local resident of AlUla, here to tell us all about his Eid memories and the memories of the people of AlUla.

Welcome Thamer.

Hello my brother, Saad.

Eid Mubarak.

Eid Mubarak to you too.

Eid this year is different from all the others.

Yes, it is, Eid in AlUla is special and has a fondness for all of us.

Yes

There’s a fondness passed down through generations from our fathers and grandfathers, very present today as it has always been.

That’s very nice. Thamer, can you share with us some of the Eid traditions you remember from the past?

On the first day of Eid the elders would celebrate that God Almighty had blessed and graced them with fasting the month of Ramadan. They would go out to Eid prayers and to celebrate the end of fasting, playing traditional games like “Al-Zeer”.

Yes

It was played for 7 days straight.

During the day or in the night?

In the afternoons they would go out and play the game of Al-Zeer.

So Thamer, what usually followed after Eid prayers?

After Eid prayers, in the past, celebrations were divided across 3 days.

Yes

The first day is called “Al Barr” when families would spend the day in their homes. Then, on the second and third days, people of the town would travel and visit their relatives.

Is there any special food accustomed to Eid?

Yes, Sambos definitely. Sambos is eaten a lot in Eid, prepared a little differently in AlUla than in other regions.

Sambos is different from Sambusa?

Sambusa is the same but the people of AlUla would add spices and flavours to it that are slightly different from the Sambusa found in other regions.

Yes, that’s their morning customs?

In the mornings yes.

Thamer, what was the most generous Eid gift you ever received as a child?

Not even 50 Riyal at that time. Not more than that.

So that’s the biggest Eid gift you’ve ever received?

Yes

And how did you spend it?

These things get spent without you even knowing [laughs].

Okay

Eid still has its own identity in AlUla, even today.

Yes

Until this day we still go out, buy gifts, visit our families and the elderly in AlUla.

Thank you. That was Thamer Abdul Kareem with us today from AlUla.

Thank you and happy Eid.

You’re welcome, happy Eid to you.