Days of My Life

Talk about daily life of a teenage girl in Iraq, and days of suffering and success. My nick name will be Sunshine..

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Ramadan and it's spirit ..

Ramadan the merciful month for all the Muslims started a week ago , I was hoping it'll bring us peace, but It didn't ..
Yesterday, I was writing and waiting for a mine behind my house to explode! My brother stayed in my lap and kept asking "will the windows break like last time?"
Seriously, they made "progress" !!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, in Ramadan there are so many nice series, I watch some if we have electricity, I feel a little bit hungry during the day, but the hardest time is the last 5 minutes before sunset..
I like the spirit of Ramadan, the delicious Iraqi desserts, and meals, grandma make excellent Noom Basra juice (Basra's lemon), I love it ..

this is the Noom Basra.
Mama awake us for al suhoor at 4 am, to eat a meal before the morning prayer (at 5:30 am) after I eat al Suhoor I go back to sleep, but my parents stay awake for about an hour reading the holy Quran and praying the morning prayer. Everyone's prayer is for Iraq.
I wake up at 10 am, I spend my day working on computer, and watch particular shows, because my mom don't like to see me spending the whole time watching TV. (I don't like that either).
At 7:30 pm we have al Futoor, when the sun start to set . . Adas soup (lentils soup), juice should be on the table every day in Ramadan, as well as other different kinds of dishes..

When Ramadan ends we'll have Eid (feast), in Eid we wear new clothes, and visit our relatives and friends, we usually have big family meeting in the grandparents' house, or eldest uncle's house in the first day. It is a tradition here.. and I love it a lot..
The spirit of Ramadan and Eid is absent, since 3 years, because of the circumstances and the bad events that happens to every family in Iraq.
We are expecting a curfew in the coming days as things began to be out of the government hands, we expect it to last for a long time .
If we'll have curfew, we'll go to my dad uncle's house, like what happened in Eid 3 years ago.. their house is safer than ours, and the part of the neighborhood we live in is extremely dangerous.
I hope our expectations are wrong! And we won't have curfew.
keep praying.
Sunshine

28 Comments:

At 5:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

enjoy your family get-togethers. stay safe.
starliz

 
At 6:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your photo's of the food made me hungry. I hope everything will stay safe for you and your family.

 
At 10:09 PM, Blogger Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf said...

I love seeing all those yummy foods! I pray for the day when the spirit of Ramadan is back for you. *hugs*

 
At 4:43 AM, Blogger Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

The food looks wonderful. Ramadan is such a wonderful religious time of the year. I wish non Muslim understood it better. Your description personalizes it nicely.

I hope you and your family stay safe in these dangerous times.

 
At 10:37 AM, Blogger ElJot said...

Sunshine thanks for describing how looks Ramadan. I'm not Muslim but I'm very curious yours religion customs.

I think that everyone who is reading your blog wants to better understand Muslim religion and writing about this by you is the best way to show us how wonderful and peaceful is Muslim religion.

You can convince us that world media are lying and distort the true.
When you watch TV sometimes you can have feeling that Muslim = Terrorist it's sad but unfortunately true. This two words are almost always together one by one in TV spot when they are reporting about terrorist attack.

Luckily we have you Sunshine, you are ours eyes and ears in Iraq. You show us how looks day life in Iraq and help us to better understand Muslim religion and your admirable customs.

Keep bloging, we are with you Sunshine.
I wish you all the best and especially peacefully time of Ramadan.

 
At 1:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sunshine. Thanks for writing again. I enjoy reading your news.
I don't understand Ramadan - at all! Is it fun to get up too early, try to eat when you are not hungry, then spend all day without food and water? What's the point? Don't you have enough stress in your life?

 
At 2:05 PM, Blogger MixMax said...

That's not fair, all this delecious food made me very hungry, esepcially that these are my fav. menu :)

 
At 3:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh sunshine mercy plz we r on fast, but frankly speaking i really enjoy reading ur blog and talking abt ramadan, and i always pray for all iraqis, keep shining.

 
At 5:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sunshine,

Thank you so much for your blog and especially for sharing the traditions of Ramadan with us. It seems Muslims have kept the spirit of the religious holidays without adding the commercial aspect that we Christians have.

Christmas is now more about Santa, decorations, and unbridled spending for Christmas gifts than anything from the Bible. Easter is bunnies, egg hunts, candy and more spending. The whole spirit of our holidays has been lost to advertising and public relations.

I think the way you celebrate Ramadan is more in keeping with the way God, yours and mine, would wish – family time, reflection and feasts.

Hoping for peace and a bright future for you, your family and all of Iraq.

Jane

 
At 7:59 PM, Blogger Lacost said...

Hey Sunshine!

I just found your blog today and I am so glad I did! I think you are an amazing person and your blog is brilliant.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that and that I will definitely be checking up on this blog regularly.

Stay safe and keep blogging!

 
At 8:14 PM, Blogger Linda G. said...

Hi Sunshine,
I got behind in my blog reading, so I missed your post telling of your BBC interview. A very late, but sincere Congratulations To You!
Your day of peaceful fishing looked fun, and I loved the pictures of your little brother and sister.
Learning about Ramadan is very interesting to me, and the foods you pictured look delicious.. I love lentil soup so I'd be right at home:)
On the Christian Holiday of Easter, everyone wears new clothes and goes off to church. Then we come home and eat a big dinner with all our family members. Not so different from your Eid, I'm thinking..
As always.. thinking of you, and praying for your family, and your country.

 
At 1:49 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Dear Sunshine

I was searching around on the internet to find anyone who I could send a package to to cheer them up. Looks like any food items I send will pale compared to the wonderful food that you celebrate Ramadan with but I could also send a Scientific American magazine for starters and maybe some colors to paint with- I hope you stay safe and I loved your blog- very inspiring, I had to call a friend here in Western New York we are living very remote and so much safer than you- I want to send you safety- and you have such courage it is inspiring Sincerely Gudrun

 
At 10:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My Dear One,

I have been sharing time with a few girls in my class who too are celebrating Ramadan. They have been explaining things to me and sharing their excitement about Eid. How I wish you could have the same excitement without fear or worry.

Try to remember that your prayers are heard. And know that the world is also going to hear~ through your words and your example.

You are so very brave, honest and kind in all your words. People all over this big world are brought together to share in your life and your dreams through your blog. Always remember that. We are listening and because of you, many of us are learning what life is like for you and we are calling for change.

Oh, Dear One I wish you so much joy and happiness as you celebrate Ramadan and Eid. My prayers for safety and joy for you and all of your loved ones are being sent as often as I can.

God Bless Dear One. Be safe and be well.

4

 
At 4:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

hello.. it is too long time.. I'm soooo sorry.. you might be wrorry about me... but I was more than you..I was doing the homework of holiday.
it is soo nice to know you're doing well.. thank God..
Ramadan seems very kind..
you know , I tried to fast like you and all the muslims, although I'm christian..
I couldn't bear untill 12:00 a.m
I'll send you a massege to teach tell you everything about the newspaper, by e-mail.. would you mind telling me what is your e-mail?

 
At 1:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

wish u Iraqis and all the people of the world peace, what we all need.
I'm an iranian and I'm really happy to read your blog to get familiar with what exactly is going on in your country.
wish u and all the people of the world PEACE
good luck honey

 
At 11:17 PM, Blogger Jhondie said...

Stay safe Sunshine :)

 
At 12:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The chicken looks so good...we have about five more hours before sunset over here. I am having good wishes for you and your family during the holiday!

 
At 3:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello,
I a knew a muslin 3 years ago.
Ive been talking with him until today, and Im trying to learn a little bit Urdu.
I read parts of Quran, and know something about your God.
Its a realy other side of my culture...Im Brazilian.
Id like to send you my e-mail but your blog was in BBC news:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6940384.stm

Im afraid about putting my email here...
So, be careful and dont worrie..thing will be better, you just need to do things that can give you a good future when you have spare time.

Allah Hafiz.

 
At 5:14 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sunny even though I'm not a Muslim, a good friend of mine is, and has taught me much about Ramadan over the years. It's a very important time. I hope your family has many blessings through the year and may those blessings spread to others in need. Keep your Sun shining : )

 
At 7:59 PM, Blogger Captain Jarred Fishman, USAFR said...

I had always thought the Muslims would fast for 20 hours a day and then eat at night- I hadn't realized you could eat before sunrise!! So that means when I fast for Yom Kippur it is actually 9 hours longer! :)

So there, you don't have it as bad as Jews do- something to keep in mind when you are feeling hungry during the month :)

stay safe and keep blogging

 
At 9:12 PM, Blogger Iraqi Mojo said...

I love Iraqi food.

 
At 8:51 AM, Blogger Iraqi Mojo said...

but where's the bamya?

 
At 9:58 AM, Blogger David said...

Sunshine, the food in the pictures looks really delicious! I am really sorry that you can't enjoy a peaceful Ramadan. I hope you will get to see a lot of your relatives at the Eid celebration. Take care.

 
At 8:25 PM, Blogger Hazar Nesimi said...

Ramadan Mubarak dear Child. Good food too... I wish you stay safe and rememeber that all is in God's hand. I am sure all will be overcome

 
At 3:49 PM, Blogger emily said...

Hi Sunshine,

I found your blog in a BBC article, and I'm so glad I did! I love reading your stories and learning about Iraqi traditions. I'm so sorry about what's happening in your country right now - please keep writing so everybody will know the truth about what is happening, and stay safe!

 
At 4:15 PM, Blogger MYIDEA-M said...

I was searching for something and i came across your blog.

This was almost 2 years ago you wrote, yet again Ramadan is starting from tomorrow... I wish you and your family a Happy Ramadan & Have Prosperous Life. Its disheartening in listening about people lives due to some circumstances.

Keep writing...

Sandeep

 
At 2:13 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

the food looks delicious! maybe can you post a recipe or 2? :)

 
At 7:31 PM, Anonymous doesfood said...

These foods made me hungry. Yummy!

I hope you and your family always stay safe.

 

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