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Easter: A religious celebration to remember the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.This holiday is celebrated by Christians around the world, including in the Middle East. Christmas: A celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.In some locations, people decorate streets and houses with lanterns. Many observers fast during daylight hours for the entire month. Ramadan: A month on the Islamic calendar to reverence and commemorate when the Quran (the religious text of Islam) was revealed to Muhammad.Here are some of the most common holidays and celebrations in the Middle East: Because of this influence, many of their traditions and celebrations center around religion. The Middle East is profoundly influenced by religions. Take a look at these delicious meals from traditional Middle Eastern cuisine. Sonya Kassis says of her Arab family roots, “I love that we are known for warmth and hospitality that our love is often expressed in the preparation and service of food.”
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Depending on what country you are in and what the family’s religious observations are, you might be served lamb, fish, bread, olives, or nuts. Food is an important part of the culture. You will likely be given a warm welcome when visiting an Arab home, and you may be asked to share in a meal.
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Generous and hospitable are two words often used to describe people of the Middle East. The Bedouin culture had a special influence on Middle Eastern hospitality. “ are expressed through folk songs and chants passed down through oral histories.” “Traditions surrounding life milestones like births and marriages often invoke the connection to one’s family,” says Sonya Kassis of her Arab family. They feel it is important and make it a priority to pass on to the new generations. Many Middle Eastern families speak with deep respect of their genealogy. In many Middle Eastern countries, tribal and clan affiliations remain strong. Elders in the family are given deep respect and offer a wealth of wisdom to the younger family members. You can imagine the tremendous support system an extended family of this magnitude would provide. When sons and daughters marry, their spouse and spouse’s family become part of the main family and that is called a hamula, or great family. Also, we were always there to support anyone in the family that was going through a difficult time.” We would share stories, cook, eat lots of food, listen to music, dance and laugh. We spent many evenings and weekends with our aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and second cousins. Janice Freij says of her own experience, “Growing up in an Arab household, I was taught from a young age that family was everything. In many Middle Eastern families, parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins may live in the same home. The mother typically has a greater influence on the children, as she nurtures and cares for them in the home. The father is typically the head of the household and provides for the economic well-being of his family. There will always be differences from one family to another however, a few things stay relatively the same for all Middle Eastern families. The Importance of Family in Middle Eastern Culture This language is said to have developed through “ oral and poetic tradition.” Persian or Farsi, Hebrew, and Turkish make up the other most common languages in the region.