31 Dec - Sunday

This is my last post of the year...I could not resist. I hope everyone has a great New Years Eve followed by a year full of many joyous memories. Okay, time for some culture. The last couple days in Iraq and tomorrow are part of a celebration called Eid, pronounced eed. Every year a week long event is held in Mecca, the event is called the hajj. The hajj is a type of baptism that consists of lots of prayer and walking, google-it if you want more details. Every male should make the hajj at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. The easiest way to tell if someone has made the hajj is by their head garment. If there head garment is all white they have not made the hajj. If there head garment is black & white or red checkered they have made the hajj. A black & white head garment signifies you are from a country with a Presidential rule (i.e. Libya or Egypt), a red checkered head garment indicates you are from a country with a monarch (i.e. Saudi Arabia or Jordan). Now, Eid happens at the end of the hajj and is the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael. During the three day it is expected that Muslims visit their family and friends; first their parents then the rest of their family and friends. Well there you have it...a little culture for 2006. I hope you enjoyed this years lesson. Stay tuned for more culture in the coming year. Good night.