Arabian Peninsula - Celebrations and Holidays

What I wanted to know and learn about the celebrations of the countries were:

1) What do people celebrate?
2) Do any countries celebrate the same way?
3) How different do they celebrate from us?
4) Is there a more important, or bigger holiday?
5) What is the most unique celebration?

Many of the countries celebrate the same holidays:

• January 1        New Years Day
• February 15     Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
• June 29          Lailat Al - Mirajor Isra and Miraj (Ascension of the Prophet)
• Aug. 01 -        Beginning of Ramadan
• Aug. 20-31      End of Ramadan
• November 06   Eid Al - Adna (Feast of the Sacrifice)
• November 27   Islamic New Year

Each country has their own National Day as well:

Bahrain:         December 16
Kuwait:          February 25
Oman:            November 18
Qatar:            November 18
Saudi Arabia:  September 23
UAE:              December 02
Yemen:          October 14

National Days are the celebration of the countries founding or independence day.  Similar to our 4th of July in the USA.


Unique holidays for each Arabian country:

Bahrain
Dec. 05 - Ashura

Kuwait
Feb. 25 - National Day
Feb. 26 - Liberation Day

Oman
July 23 - Renaissance Day (marking the start of the reign of Sultan Qaboos)
Nov. 18 - National Day and birthday of HM Sulton Qaboos

Qatar
Nov. 18 - National Day

Saudi Arabia
Sept. 23 - Saudi National Day

UAE
Nov. 05 - Araft Day
Dec. 02 - National Day

Yemen
May 01 - Workers or Labor Day
May 22 - National Unity Day
September 26 - Revolution Day
October 14 - National Day
November 30 - Independence Day

The biggest festival or event to the Muslims that takes place on the Arabian Peninsula is the Hajj, which takes place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hajj means to set out for a place, and that place to the Muslims is Mecca. Hajj is the largest pilgrimage in the world. The Muslims must attend the Hajj at least one time

in their life because it is a submission to the Muslim god Allah.

One of the most unique celebratons is Ashura.  For Shi'ite Muslims, Ashura is a major festival. It commemorates the death of Hussein, grandson of Muhammad. The event led to the split between the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam.

For Shi'a Muslims, rituals on Ashura consist of public expressions of mourning and grief. Some Shi'as express mourning by flogging themselves on the back with chains, or ritually cutting themselves. This is done to connect them with Hussein's suffering and death.

Information obtained from:
http://www.holidayyear.com/
http://www.mapsofworld.com/
http://www.wikipedia.com/