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The deadline for the November issue of Cairo-Glyphics is Monday, October 20th. It will be available online on Thursday, October 30th. CAC Switchboard #: 2755-5555/5520
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Hurray for School The first six weeks of school have gone so fast. In the Elementary Egyptian Culture classes, students were busy learning about their new curricular theme, as well as Ramadan and Eid El-Fitr. Each grade level has a different theme each year. Through each theme they explore the culture of Egypt horizontally from ancient till contemporary times. The KG classes were learning about the Ramadan Lantern and made their own lanterns. They also learned about the palm tree and all its uses and how it is recycled. They already took their first trip to a palm date farm.
For the first six weeks first graders explored what life was like for cavemen and how the Egyptians ended up living by the Nile and building with mud bricks. They made their Ramadan drummer (Mesaharati) and their cavemen projects.
The second graders were finding Egypt on the map and learning about its land formation. They made their Ramadan Lanterns and the flag of Egypt. The third grade students made their imaginary time machines to take them back in time. They had to find out what was happening in Egypt around 3200 B. C. They also explored the sources of the Nile in Africa and the locations of Upper and Lower Egypt. Students made their own double crowns.
The fourth grade students were busy learning the names of the most important gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, their sacred figures and their symbols. They also explored the different ancient legends of creation. They started making models of the eye of Horus amulet, and getting ready for their first field trip to the Pharaonic Village.
Fifth grade is a culmination of all the Elementary level Egyptian Culture. Students started a review of all the natural and environmental conditions that helped to start a civilization in Egypt, and how the country was formed. They made their Neolithic style pottery. They also continued the 5th grade legacy of Ramadan activities. They packed 160 provision bags for all the members of the general services, and prepared two luscious Iftars. Eid El-Fitr The word “Eid” comes from the Arabic verb “awd”, which means to return or come again. It is used for all reoccurring occasions. Eid El-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha are the two main Islamic feasts celebrated by the Muslims since the 7th century AD. Eid El-Fitr celebrates the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. It is the most popular celebration in the Islamic Calendar. It takes place in the first day of Shawal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The celebration starts on the 29th of Ramadan. Religion and government officials go to different planetariums all over Egypt to view the new moon. If the new moon is sighted, Shawal starts, if not, Ramadan is continued to thirty days. In the 7th century A.D. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) put on a special garment for the Eid prayers. After the prayers he asked the Muslims to donate to the needy. Men and women who attended the prayers gave money or gold to the poor. After the prayers special troupes played tambourines and sang songs to celebrate the occasion. Today, following the practices of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), the same tradition is still followed. Muslims wake up early in the morning and put on their best clothes. They give the feast alms to the needy, and then attend the prayers held in all the main mosques. In villages, and in different districts, people organize big processions to walk to the prayers early that day. After the prayers, families get together to celebrate. Children get new clothes as well as presents from their families. Sometimes they get a sum of money called “Eideyya”. For the occasion special songs are broadcasted on the radio and television. Families go out in the gardens, or take felucca rides. Children decorate their bikes with colorful crepe paper and go racing. In Egypt, Eid El-Fitr is a popular time for engagements and weddings. Kahk: The most important feature of Eid El-Fitr is the special Eid cookies “Kahk”. In fact, the name Eid El-Fitr means the feast of cookies. In the 10th century A.D. the ruler ordered cookies stuffed with gold to be prepared and given to the people. The Fatimids continued the tradition and established a special kitchen to prepare and bake the kahk. The sweets and cookies were distributed to the high officials, and to the needy. Kahk is still the main tradition of Eid El-Fitr. In the villages and popular areas, families get together the last week of Ramadan to bake them while singing special Eid songs. In the cities most people buy them ready made. Kahk is either manually shaped or by using moulds. Some kahk moulds are kept in the museum of Islamic arts. They are decorated with designs and some blessing words such as “Kol Haniyan” which means eat happily.
Jailan Abbas (Ph.D.)
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