Saudi Arabia Boys' Clothing for Parties: Birthdays


Figure 1.--Birtday parties are important events in Saudi Arabia. Here we see a Saudi birthday party. Look at the eyes all expecting. The cakes are the focus of attention. The photograph was taken in January when it can be quite cold. The boys are all wearing sweaters. This is a single gender party. I think is the general trend in the country.

Birtday parties are important events in Saudi Arabia. Here we see a Saudi birthday party. Look at the eyes all expecting. The cakes are the focus of attention. The photograph was taken in January when it can be quite cold. The boys are all wearing sweaters. This is a single gender party. I think is the general trend in the country. The photographer tells us, "All the boys were in the same class at school. Everyone will be invited as will be the class teacher. All bring gifts. Each family try to show their joy and friendship by buying expensive gifts. In time this giving is recipricated to the children has their turn comes to celebrate their birthday. A careful record is kept of who gave what so that future giving is socially correct. At the end of the party each child recieves a party bag full of goodies and a small thank you gift. The boy in blue is the birthday boy. The way he holds his hands suggests that he has said a thankyou prayer. In Saudi birthday parties are social occasions and while the parents have focussed their attention on providing a wonderful birthday tea they do not organise the children's play. There might be 20 excitable boys playing a variety of activities in the compound grounds. These involve lots of chasing games. When it is time for the birthday tea everyone gathers around the birthday cake. The candles are lit and everyone sings in English, French or Arabic 'Happy Birthday.' Then the cake is cut and the party begins. Parties could be held in school, at the home of the birthday boy or in a restaurant. The food was plentiful and everyone was encouraged to eat as much as they liked. It was a mark of respect if the teacher attended the party. I often organised children's games when the children had exhausted their running about games."







HBC





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Created: 11:46 PM 11/2/2006
Last updated: 10:43 PM 11/3/2006