EGYPT: Traditional sugar dolls to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday survive despite rival Chinese imports

Record ID: 860668

  • Title: EGYPT: Traditional sugar dolls to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday survive despite rival Chinese imports
  • Date: 26th February 2010
  • Summary: WIDE OF SWEET SHOP
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • City:
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Industry,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA4WASTYTCZ5ATFYWC9S8OTSETN
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  • Story Text: As Muslims celebrate Mawled al-Nabawi - the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed - on Friday (February 26), Egyptian sweet-makers mark the occasion by selling one of the country's particular specialities - sugar dolls prepared in the form of brides and horses.
    The sweet dolls are an ancient tradition in Egypt, and similar ivory dolls dating back to Pharoanic times have been uncovered in parts of country. However, the number of sweet manufacturers making the dolls has dwindled in recent years, partly due to an influx of plastic dolls made in China.
    Once numbering hundreds, there are only four sugar doll factories left in Egypt. One of them is the al-Araby Factory in the Ramsis area of Cairo, operated by the same family since the 1960s. The shop, and the workers who make the sugar dolls, work only in the run up to the Mawled holiday.
    Sugar is cooked to a certain consistency and then poured into moulds. When cooled, they are decorated with paints and colourful wrapping. Al-Araby produce hundreds of the sugar dolls to sell during the festival.
    Ali Al-Araby is co-owner and business manager of the company and says his company now manufactures the dolls primarily to keep the tradition alive rather than make a profit.
    "The bride and horse (sugar dolls) for us are a tradition, not a form of worship. It's not a question of profit, or the price of sugar or if the dolls will sell, it's simply a tradition which must continue," he said.
    Ahmed al-Sayed, who works in the al-Araby factory, said: "These Mawled (the Prophet's birthday) treats have existed for many generations. Ever since we were children, these brides and horses have helped us the birthday of the prophet Mohammed."
    Customer Mohammed Magdy said he always buys his sugar dolls at al-Araby. He said: "We've been buying these dolls for many years. I always come to this place to buy sugar dolls, because they help us celebrate the birthday of the prophet Mohammed."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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