KUWAIT CELEBRATES THE 'GIRGEAN' AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS DUE TO THE CORONA

  • 13/04/2022

Kuwait City: The "Girgean" festival, in which people give candy and nuts to children in the middle of Ramadan month, has returned after a two-year hiatus owing to the coronavirus. Girgean is an ancient ritual that is observed in Kuwait and all Gulf countries during Ramadan, while each country observes the event in its own unique way. Children in Kuwait dress in traditional colourful costumes and stroll in groups through their neighborhood's streets, knocking on doors to sing traditional songs and receive sweets. The songs that the boys sing for the event are not the same as the songs that the girls sing. In this respect, Kuwaiti folklore expert Adel Al-Sadoun that moms used to sew special bags for boys that could be hung over the neck and looped across the chest to hold candies. 


The girls wore a "bukhnag," a black and gold head covering, as well as a unique bag to store the candy. He added that the lads would collect candies while wearing traditional Kuwaiti clothing called "dishdasha," and that they would also bring drums and empty boxes to make noise while singing Girgean songs. According to Al-Sadoun, Girgean celebrations have become more exaggerated in recent years, with people distributing exquisite candies and nuts in large gatherings for both children and adults. He also mentioned that some individuals include perfumes and bukhoor "incense" in their Girgean for grownups. 

On her part, housewife Hanaa Al-Wuhaib said that Girgean lost its simplicity these days, as families started planning huge parties with different ideas for presentation even before Ramadhan starts. People started exaggerating even in their clothing or the kind of expensive candy they give, as well as booking ballrooms for the celebration. 

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