New
Years Day (January 1): Some of the churches and mosques have a special services
to bring in the new year at the stroke of midnight, and the people often wish
each other the gift of peace for the coming year. Given the political events
and civil war in recent years, that’s a huge wish to place for everyone.
Afterwards, the parties continue with fireworks displays, ever-flowing beer,
and music and dancing until the sun starts to rise again. Many people send well
wishes and even gifts to their closes friends and family around this time.
Prophet’s
Birthday (varies): Also called Mawlid or Maouloud. Along with 47 other countries of the Muslim world, Côte
d’Ivoire also holds the Prophet’s Birthday as a public holiday. (I think I
finally figured out why in a lot of the Islam-based websites I read that the
initials PBUH was after the Prophet’s name almost every time it was written: I’m
fairly certain it stands for “Peace Be Unto Him.” But correct me if I’m
wrong.) On this day, Muslims
decorate the mosques and their homes, reciting special prayers, reading
passages about his life, and many people will also prepare food to give to the
poor and/or other acts of charity.
Easter
Monday (varies): Starting days
before Easter itself, these celebrations are an important time for most
Ivoirian Christians. Maundy Thursday is often spent washing the feet of new
believers to the church. Many people use Good Friday as a day for going
door-to-door evangelizing and trying to encourage non-members to convert. In
the US, Easter Saturday is generally quiet, but in Côte d’Ivoire, many people
stay up all night to sing, dance, and pray their way into Easter Sunday, which starts
out with special, often larger, services held at the church. Often, the Easter stories are tied
together with the underlying message of hope. Afterwards people continue
celebrating with a large meal (often with rice and meat) with friends and
family. Easter Monday a declared day off of work and school, most likely to
recuperate from the intense celebrations for the past few days.
Labour
Day (May 1): Celebrated with many other countries on this day, Labour Day is a
day to celebrate the workers of the world and to address the state of labor and
labor issues. Currently, among
some of the larger labor issues Côte d’Ivoire faces involve the use of child
labor, despite government efforts to curb and regulate the issue, it still
happens. Civil war and political strife often makes it hard on people to feel
that child labor is a necessary decision in order to make ends meet, and
resources just aren’t available to both businesses and families. It’s estimated
that 46,000 children are employed as child laborers under inhumane conditions,
often trafficked in and abused, instead of attending school. Many of these
abuses take place on the cocoa bean plantations – Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s
leading producer of cocoa. (On the other side of the coin, Europe is the
leading importer of cocoa – various reports list Germany, Switzerland, and Great
Britain among the top chocolate consumers of the world.) Like similar
situations elsewhere in Africa and the world (and even the US), issues of labor
and education are far more complicated and interwoven to have a simple
solution.
Ascension
(varies): This celebration occurs 40 days after Easter and is traditionally
celebrated by Christians as the day they attribute to Jesus’ ascension into
heaven. Schools and businesses
close for the day. There may be special services held at churches for people to
attend.
Whit
Monday (varies): Also known as Pentecost Monday. Traditionally held on the 50th day after Easter
(hence, PENTE-cost), there is often a special church service held where many
hymns are sung in honor of the day.
The traditional belief behind this day is that 50 days after Jesus was
resurrected, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and gave them the “gift of
tongues.” The name Whit Sunday (or Whit Monday) came from the wearing of white
clothes by the newly baptized.
Independence
Day (August 7): Celebrating its independence from France in 1960, Côte d’Ivoire
certainly packs the whole day with festivities for everyone. Outdoor community
festivals are planned with parades, a variety of food and drink, music and
dancing, cultural displays, soccer games, and fireworks in the evening. Some of
the more popular foods include aloko (bananas fried in palm oil) and a local
palm wine called Bangui (not to be confused with the capital of Central African
Republic). The town decorates businesses and homes with the national colors and
hangs the flag everywhere.
Revelation
of the Qur’an (varies): Also known as Laylat al-Qadr. It’s the night
traditionally attributed to being the night when the verses of the Qur’an was
revealed to Muhammad. Many recite extra prayers and read passages from the
Qur’an. The Qur’an doesn’t necessarily cite a date for this day, and it’s
celebrated in slightly different ways depending on whether you’re a Sunni and
Shia. But generally it is
celebrated on an odd-numbered day during the last ten days of Ramadan.
End
of Ramadan (varies): Also known as Eid al-Fitr, this day is marked by a huge
feast celebrating the end of Ramadan, the month-long fast of Islam. Special prayer services are held at the
mosque to mark the end of Ramadan and are followed by an elaborate feast with
friends and family. A large
variety of foods and drinks are displayed on the table, and it certainly
depends on where you live and how much money you have as to what particular
foods are served. Many people also give small gifts to the children at Eid as
well.
Feast
of the Sacrifice (varies): Also known as Eid al-Adha or Tabaski. It’s tied to
the story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son simply because God
had asked him to, all to stop the sacrifice at the last minute. There are several prayers that are read
on this day and special prayer services are held. People dress in their best
clothes on this day, and one tradition is to slaughter an animal and divide the
meat into keeping some for your own family, giving some to other family
members, and giving some to the needy as an act of charity. Those who don’t have the opportunity to
slaughter an animal in this ritual will often donate money to charitable
organizations to purchase food for the needy instead.
All
Saint’s Day (November 1): This is a Christian holiday in honor of all of the
saints. Many saints already have their own feast days (especially in the
Catholic tradition), so this day is to honor all of the saints who do not have
specific feast days. On this day, all who are able will usually attend a
special mass.
National
Peace Day (November 15): Somehow, this holiday hasn’t been written about much,
but generally from what I’ve gathered, this is a holiday that the government
has set aside to working together to try to regain Côte d’Ivoire as a peaceful
nation. In light of the instability that has taken place over much of the past
decade or so, regaining peaceful footing is something they are striving and
working towards on a long-term path.
It may be later than sooner, but I’m hoping that they will achieve peace
and stability again.
Christmas
Day (December 25): One tradition in Côte d’Ivoire is that people will gather at
their church on Christmas Eve night to participate in a huge festival that
lasts until the early morning hours. There’s feasting, singing, dancing, skits,
games, music, prayers, and stories. Sometimes the kids will find a corner and
fall asleep (which I’d probably be with them. As I’ve found, partying in your
30s is far lamer than how I partied in my 20s.). They don’t do the commercialism associated with Christmas
that you find in the Americas and Europe – in fact, gifts aren’t really
exchanged all that much. (Often
they will exchange gifts with people for New Years.)
Up
next: art and literature
No comments:
Post a Comment