Egyptians celebrate Prophet Mohammad's birth but miss sugar dolls

Record ID: 1364704

  • Title: Egyptians celebrate Prophet Mohammad's birth but miss sugar dolls
  • Date: 19th November 2018
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 14, 2018) (REUTERS) DOLL MADE OF PLASTIC TO MARK BIRTHDAY OF PROPHET MOHAMMAD IN CELEBRATION KNOWN AS MAWLID ON DISPLAY / MOSQUE IN BACKGROUND CARS PASSING THROUGH STREET / PLASTIC DOLLS ON SALE AT SIDE OF STREET PLASTIC DOLLS / MINARET OF MOSQUE IN BACKGROUND CARPENTER AND MAKER OF DOLLS, ABDO, STANDING NEXT TO DECORATED DOLLS VARIOUS OF ABDO DECORATING DOLL DECORATED DOLL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CARPENTER AND MAKER OF DOLLS, ABDO, SAYING: "Plastic (dolls) do compete (with sugar dolls) but to a small extent, why? Because you have the plastic (dolls) all year long but you can only see the (sugar dolls) in the mawlid (Prophet Mohammad's birthday). Of course, children are bored with the plastic (dolls), they want to be happy so they buy the sugar dolls on the occasion of the mawlid." DOLLS MADE OF SUGAR / MAN PICKING UP DOLLS MEN CARRYING BOARD COVERED WITH DOLLS HORSE MADE OUT OF SUGAR / MAN WORKING ON DECORATION VARIOUS OF DOLLS SURROUNDED BY DECORATION VARIOUS OF MAN DECORATING DOLL PEOPLE DECORATING DOLLS DECORATED SUGAR LUMPS VARIOUS OF MAKER OF SUGAR DOLLS, MOHAMMAD SAYED FARAG, DECORATING DOLL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAKER OF SUGAR DOLLS, MOHAMED SAYED FARAG, SAYING: "Mawlid (Prophet Mohammad's birthday) without sweets? That can't be. We are making the children happy, we make a doll called 'zefaf' (Arabic for wedding), with a dress made of four layers including plastic, light fabric and crumples." MAN DRAWING ON FACE OF DOLL WITH MARKER DECORATED DOLL PLASTIC DOLL BEING DECORATED PLASTIC DOLL IN WEDDING DRESS VARIOUS OF WOMAN DECORATING DOLL DECORATED DOLLS WOMAN FIXING KNIGHT AND HORSE IN PLACE KNIGHT AND HORSE SURROUNDED BY DECORATION WOMAN DECORATING DOLL CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 17, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GATE TO AL-AZHAR PLAQUE ON WALL IN OFFICE INSIDE AL-AZHAR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) Al-AZHAR SCHOLAR, MAHMOUD AL-HAWARY, SAYING: "Those who ban the making of sweets for mawlid (Prophet Mohammad's birthday) are too strict. It is going too far. The question is on eating the food, is it halal or haram? For example, to give food to your family and bring them joy, not just when it comes to sweets for mawlid but any type of food. What is the nature of that act? It is allowed, bringing joy to the family is allowed. It is alright. But they say that this specific food had become connected with the day of the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, they also say that the day of the birth of the prophet has not been agreed upon. That may be in some of the books, but at the end it is just about giving your family some food." CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 14, 2018) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING PAST PLASTIC DOLLS WOMAN SHOPPING FOR SWEETS SWEETS STREET SCENE / PLASTIC DOLLS
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2018 17:06
  • Keywords: Porphet Muhammed's birthday celebrations in Egypt Egypt culture Egypt heritage
  • Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • City: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA001976682D
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Nostalgic Egyptians are reminiscing over the ceremonial sugar dolls that were once the highlight of festivities to celebrate the Prophet Mohammad's birthday, as traditional practices slowly die out.
    Generations of children eagerly anticipated the annual arrival of the dolls at marketplaces throughout the country, enthusiastically breaking them into pieces in order to indulge in the sweet taste.
    But in many shops the edible sugar doll has been replaced with a plastic version, especially in larger cities.
    Whether made of sugar or plastic, the dolls are dressed as brides.
    Yet, for Mohamed Sayed Farag, who makes dolls in the traditional way, the two are not the same.
    "Mawlid without sweets? That can't be," he said, adding that he makes a sugar doll, called "Zefaf", Arabic for wedding, which wears a four-layer dress.
    The Mawlid al-Nabi holiday, which starts on Tuesday, is an important occasion for many Egyptians, marked by making traditional sweets that are sold in shops and street markets.
    Prophet Mohammad was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in the year 570 AD. Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid, or his birth, each year on the 12th day of Rabi' al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register