Egyptians celebrate Prophet Mohammad's birth but miss sugar dolls
FILE PHOTO: A traditional sugar candy in the shape of a horse is displayed at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
CAIRO (Reuters) - 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.
FILE PHOTO: Women decorate traditional sugar candy in the shape of dolls at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
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.
FILE PHOTO: A man decorates traditional sugar candy at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
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.
FILE PHOTO: Sweets makers carry a tray with traditional sugar candies in the shape of dolls and horses at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
(Reporting by Ahmed Fahmy; writing by Hend Kortam; editing by Lena Masri and Kirsten Donovan)
FILE PHOTO: Customers buy handmade sweets at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Sayeda Zainab neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt November 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: A man decorates traditional sugar candy at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: A woman decorates traditional sugar candy in the shape of a doll at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: Customers buy handmade sweets at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Sayeda Zainab neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt November 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: A customer passes by handmade traditional dolls at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Sayeda Zainab neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt November 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: A man displays a decorated traditional sugar candy doll at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: A man decorates traditional sugar candy at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: A Christian woman, Om Samir, 60, decorates a traditional doll ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Sayeda Zainab neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyFILE PHOTO: A woman decorates traditional sugar candy in the shape of a doll at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Cairo, Egypt November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El GhanyCustomers buy handmade sweets at a street market ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, in Sayeda Zainab neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt November 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
