St.Stephen Middle School
November, 2001
http://www.afghan-network.net/Culture/festival.jpg
The most important month of the Islamic calender is the Ramadan, the ninth month. Everybody is suppost to do this festival except the old, young, pregnant women, and the sick. You are required to avoid food and drink to dawn to dust. The feast of Eid al-Fitr commences after the month of fasting ends. On the first of the month of Shawel, usually lasts for about three days, congregational prayers are held in mosques, after which Afghans visit their friends and relatives. New clothes are made, especially for children, and food is prepared.
Buskashi is a tradition horse game of the Afghans can go for days. Group or individuals try to gras a carcass (a dead goat). The winner gets money and a turban from the sponsor.
Afghans wrestling
Afghans take praying very seriously.
Afghans at a chicken fight
Nau-Roz is New Year's day. Nau-Roz is the first day of spring and Afghans solar calender, and falls on March 21st. This festival goes back to the time when Zoroastrianism was still a powerful religion, long before Islam arrived in Afghanistan. While the celebrations are going on lavish meals are prepared in Afghan's homes. There are two dishes, samanak and haft-mehwash are often cooked during this time. Samanak, a dessert like made of wheat and surgar, this takes more than two days to prepare. Haft-mehwash consists of seven fruit and nuts to symbolize spring: walnuts, almonds, pistachios, red and green raisins, dried apricots, and a local fruit known as sanjit.
Daily Events
A woman threading cloth
Afghans sawing wood
A shoe maker
A man selling bread
A man reading the Holy Quran. The Afghans learn the Holy Quran by heart except for women.
Melon sellers
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