Kuwait: Special Girgian Celebration  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

People in the Gulf region mark the middle of the Holy Month of Ramadan with a celebration, where children dress up and go door to door, wishing neighbours and collecting treats and sometimes money.
From Kuwait, intlxpatr was in for a treat when an unexpected knock on her door:
The doorbell rang.
No one rings my doorbell. The doorman always calls to let me know if a visitor has arrived.
“Who’s there?” I called out.
“It’s GIRGIAN!” a chorus of voices rang out.
Girgian is a children’s holiday, a little like Hallowe’en, about half way through the month of Ramadan, when costumed children come and ring your bell and are given sweets, sometimes money. If you are really lucky, they sing a song. My understanding is that normally the children go around to their families, like aunts and uncles and cousins, and to close neighbors.
Needless to say, intlxpatr was delighted with the surprise:
In come eight gorgeous little Kuwaitis, all English speaking, all dressed top to bottom in gorgeous finery, bright thobes and prayer caps, beautifully hand woven bisht with gilt trim, dresses with embroidery and lace and gilt skirts, golden headdresses – oh! They were gorgeous!
No one has ever come for Gergian before. I didn’t have anything prepared. Thank God AdventureMan has a sweet tooth, and thank God, they were polite and appeared delighted with handsfull of Oreo cookies and marshmallows, which were all I had.
Some days, you just never know when a blessing will appear. Those darling children made my day.
She even shares a video uploaded on YouTube of the celebration by Kuwaiti blogger Chikapappi: