5 Sept 2009

An Iraqi way..

"Ramdan unites us".
I have the honor to give the pic above as a gift to a friend.. to "Yasser".



Date-palms from Iraq..


Guys play al-mheibes game.

Man-alsma, Iraqi kind of dessert.

al-baqlawa-dessert.
I myself dont like it that much, because its very sweet.


Al-turshana. I actually dont know what to describe.. let me say it's a broth. its so sweet. it includes apricots.

Al-bryani, one of the best Iraqi meals, which i have learnt to prepare lately :D
"My love is Iraq"


Iraqi Sagf , a way of grilling.


Zlabya, another kind of dessert.. here's a women wearing al-abaya which is an important piece of clothes that many families urge their daughters to wear.. to be honest, many others see it as an uncivilized dress, but i myself see it as a piece of heritage that i am willing to wear,, even for once in my life!

The Iraqis, when they are many and together prefer to sit on the floor, its easier to eat as they believe and find! and they usually -not all of them- eat food with their hands, without spoons,forks nor knives.. i really like this!!!!!!! lol



A dessert shop..also in Iraq!



A baker's shop in Iraq.. what I have noticed is that most of Iraqis suffer from a lack of eating bread when they leave Iraq, as there is nothing equal to the Iraqi bread!!


The Iraqis are used to prepare for Ramadan, by buying things they need, like spices..



Spices..legumes.. yeast.. starch..



Al-Shwrja market in Baghdad.. one of the greatest markets in Iraq.


When we put food into trayes, we cover it with bread, so it doesnt lose hotness.



Here's an old man willing to taste a piece of dessert offered by the vendor.. it makes me smile!


Fasting means to stop eating and drinking since sunrise (when there is a meal called al-suhur) till dusk (al-futur).

Here's something about Ramadan in Iraq.

The Iraqi families every year get ready for Ramadan.. The most important thing is shopping. Markets become crowded of people in order to provide all the needs, especially food like meat, spices, legumes and the necessary powder for the simple dessert -that the Iraqi lady enjoys preparing for the evening- although the prices get rised.

And first of all, all the Iraqis hope that Ramdan nights will be free from explosions and full of safety and comfort..
Also hope that the politician leaders will devote their desires for nothnig except our home. With generosity, sacrifice and mercy. Away from all the conflicts and hatred. And surely, to leave the space for everybody to pursue his worship freely.

The Iraqi markets swarm with different kinds of foodstuffs which come from forgein sources . deluxe types of rice, juices, flour ,canned foods , desserts and pastries.

Many TV series are displayed on TV, but not all the Iraqis can get the chance to follow because of the continuos cut of the electricity , and the responsible authorities promised to improve the power, they did , but not perfectly. The administrative corruption is the reason.
Many families seek the help of the private generators that they own in their houses, or private lines whose origin is a main big generator provides the particular neighborhood.
Some families go to the resturants for al-futur and enjoy walking in the streets during the night. They became a bit safer than before.

This Ramadan there are series of (Radhi's diaries) and the second season of (seven sisters) which are very funny and displayed on al-iraqiyya channel, I watch them but not every day :D

In Ramadan, the most famous game is al-mheibes (the ring) .. Popularity to a great extent, and it takes its turn of interest. Old and young men participate, since after al-futur till sunrise.. teams from different places all around Iraq come and compete. With foloklore inspiriations, folk dances, Baghdadi style of music, and even football matches in local playgrounds.
This game contains a rivalry between two teams. Each team consists of about 50 players. The aim is to hide the ring in some hand and a member from the other team should try to find it.. my sisters and I many times play this game.. so much fun.
For example, in Baghdad , teams come from Al-kadhumyya, al-a'dhamyya, baghdad al-jdeeda, philisteen street, and al-sadr city..
The main goal of this game is to strengthen all peace, love, and hope relations..and this really what I hope for..

Let the Iraqis be always happy .. Let them smile.. Enjoy their smiles!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It's another day in my beloved Iraq, this night I would really love to see myself climbing a date-palm!!

I would really fear its top, but it's in truth, what about the dream???


Sandybelle te re!!!

20 comments:

زهرة الراوي said...

ملخص جداً رائع عن رمضان العراق ..
يعني آني كلش استفدت منه أما الصور فتجنن
عاشت إيدج ..

أكولج المحيبس تعتمد على الفطنة والحدس فقط لو أكو أشياء أخرى ...
لأن آني وخواتي هم نلعبها، بس ما يلعبوها 50 واحد !!!

زين وكلتي الناس تجي من كذا وكذا وكذا من الأماكن، بس مكلتي وين يتجمعون؟؟
ميخالف دا أثكل عليج بس احجيلي حبابة :)

what I have noticed is that most of Iraqis suffer from a lack of eating bread when they leave Iraq, as there is nothing equal to the Iraqi bread!!

إي والله شلون عرفتي؟؟ هنا أكو مطعم يسوي صمون عراقي تلكين الناس مكاتل عليه !!! يجون من أقصى الارض ..
والله ماكو أطيب من خبز بيبي ..

الله يجمعنا على أرض العراق وهيه بخير وأمان .

دمتي بخير ومحبة ..

Ali said...

wowwwwwwwwwwww.
its a very good post about ramadan!
i dont play al-mheibes always. we always meet near the mosque!

so, you like eating with your hands. funny!

Lilly said...

al-bryani seems very DELICIOUS!
Yammmmmmmmmmmmmmy
Very fine times you have to spend in Ramadan. Enjoy them Sandy.

sally said...

Hi Sandybelle.

seems you're living it up over there, with all the tasty food, nice activities and lovely feelings...lucky girl.

i just discovered this blogger called Al-hussein Arshad Yasin who claims to be Saddam's nephew !!!

aay-quotes.blogspot.com

rest assured, he's nothing like his uncle, quite the exact contrary. from the subject/tone of his posts, he must be in his teens like you. lots of iraqi teens are blogging these days, aren't they ? why not found an iraqi teen blogger club ?

Stay well sweetie.

Johny said...

There are many special things in the Iraqi society. Thanks for sharing us your info, its a good post :D

MAIS M.ISSA said...

great post!! wow i really enjoyed watching these nice pictures about ramadhan but i feel hungry now and i want to eat biryani lol.

Wisam said...

so, girl, you've learn cooking al-bryani! cool! i am full of jealousy against your husband! :-P

Dr.Human said...

Very very nice post .
I like zalabiya very much specialy in ramadan .
But I thing you forgot to mention about sharbat Al zabib !! This is too I like to drink it with al kabab ..
Very nice post ,there is things that I didn't hear about it before !!
take care .

Khalid from iraqiblogupdates.blogspot.com/ said...

Shamosa Al Warda,

A nice picrue and a very powerful title " "Ramdan unites us" and all in all a loرely post.

Congratulations!

Yes let us be united against all our enemies who want to destroy our beautiful country. Lets forget the problems of the past and start to re-build our coutry.

شموسة الوردة هذا جميل وحلو ويحوي صور لذيذة وكان ملفتاً ان تبدأي بهذا الشعار الهائل ومن بعده النخلة المباركة وما تلاها من صور لتقاليدنا الرمضانية العتيدةوحلوياتها الشهيرة ونعم ليوحدنا رمضان ولننسى ما يبعث على اختلافنا فالله وحجه يحكم فيما اختلف فيه الناس وهنا فان علينا نشر المحبة والمودة والتألف بين ابناء شعبنا وماكتبيه ومع كل هذه الصور المعبرة يؤدي هذه المهمة التي هي مسؤوليتنا جميعاً


هنيئاً لك يا شمس يا اصيلة

هنيئاً لك قلبك الطيب الذي يحب الجميع

هنيئاً لك ان الله عز وجل قد جعلك عامل وحدة احبها الرب دائماً وليس عامل فرقة قد نبذهاالرب وفي مواضع كثيرة


تقبلي احترامي وتقديري الشديدين

البرجوازي العراقي said...

هسه جاوبيني المن تحبين اكثر الزلابية لو ساندي بيل تي ره؟؟؟

واقترح عليج تشاركينا بفد رسم بالرصاص لاي شي يعجبج حتى لو ترسمين زلابياية يعني لحد هسة مشفت رسام عراقي راسم زلابية مادري لوش؟!

ولازم متنسين قضية العراقي اللي طكت روحه وسافر للصين وفتح محل مال زلابية واعتقلوا لان الزلابية مالتة معناها -تسقط الصين- فلازم تديرين بالج من ترسميها هم بعد...

تمنياتي بالتوفيق ...تي ره

Dr.blogger said...

such a beautiful pictures , did you take them by your self ?
I like zalabya and baqlawa and all candies types ummmm!! these days I didn't stop making desserts from different types ( 3awamat, sambosak, lafat khamerah, zonood alset, ka3ek and many on road :D )
It seems that you are enjoying your times . keep safe dear

Yasser said...

hi sandy
-first of all thank you for the gift, its realy nice and for eyes of the sweetie iraqi shammossa its now my mobile wallpaper picture.
-second, I am so sorry to be late to see your blog..you know that summer break ended and the new academic year has just started with all its responsibilities.
-third, its good to know that your parents coming soon (may god safe them to you and safe you to them).
-fourth, it is so nice post!!! its like you summarized the ramadan in iraq with these wonderful pictures and lines... but I think there is a picture is missed here..
the picture of a family gathering on al-futur...it will be true in 25 day if god will...but what I exactly meant is the surrounding by loving people at this spiritual moments...and you have a lots of them.
-last and sorry for this long comment, sure you know these words of al-sayyab
"الشمس اجمل في بلادي من سواها والظلام-حتى الظلام هناك اجمل-فهو يحتضن العراق
"
The sun, more beautiful in my country than elsewhere and the dark
Even the dark there is more beautiful; it embraces Iraq."
its my simple gift to you....
best wishes

Yasser said...

Hi sandy
I had sent my comment two days ago, but till now I didn't see it; so either it lost or you didn't open your blog these days.
anyway I'll repeat what I said.

at first thank you for the gift, its realy nice and for eyes of the sweetie iraqi shammossa its now my mobile's wallpaper picture.
I'm so sorry to be late to see your blog..you know that summer break ended and the new academic year has just started with all its responsibilities.
Its good to know that your parents coming soon (may god safe them to you and safe you to them).
For this post, its realy great!!! its like you summarized ramadan in iraq with these wonderful pictures and lines... but there is a picture is missed here, it is the gathering of loving people at al-futur, at this spiritual moments. isn't it?

last and sorry for this long comment, sure you know these words of al-sayyab
"الشمس اجمل في بلادي من سواها والظلام -حتى الظلام هناك اجمل- فهو يحتضن العراق"
"the sun is more beautiful in my country than elsewhere and the dark. even the dark is more beautiful; it embraces iraq"
its my simple gift to you...

Sandybelle said...

Dear friends,
sorry for being late in publishing your comments and response, internet service here was a bit bad, and i was not able to come online for the last few days.

زهره الراوي
العزبزه زهوره, شوفي ورده , اني سالت اخويه عنها بالتفصيل ودزلي هالاوفلاين عالمسنجر وكال
"ومن قواعد اللعبة أن اللاعبين الذين يشكلون فيما بينهم فريقاً يُعرف باسم المنطقة التي يسكنونها فهؤلاء يقومون بدعوة فريق آخر. وتقدم للفريق المنافس الحلويات – البقلاوة والزلابية- ويودعهم الفريق الضيف بكل حفاوة، وبانتهاء اللعبة تقدم للفريق المنافس الحلويات ويودعهم الفريق المضيف بنفس الحفاوة التي استقبلهم بها؛ وتسير اللعبة على أساس وجود فريقين يتكون الواحد من 20 إلى 100 لاعب، وإدارة اللعب هي الخاتم، ومنه اشتق اسم اللعبة وأساس قيامها هي اكتشاف مكان الخاتم عند الفريق المنافس، ويضم كل فريق لاعبين أساسيين هما اللذان يستخرجان الخاتم والباقون ما عليهم سوى الاحتفاظ به.
وتبدأ لعبة المحيبس بعد تقابل الفريقين حيث يقوم أحد الفريقين بأخذ الخاتم إما بطريقة القرعة أو شراء الخاتم بالنقاط، فالفريق الأول يطلب من الثاني الاحتفاظ بالخاتم مقابل منح عشر نقاط له، وهكذا يتم الاتفاق على بقاء الخاتم مقابل عدد من النقاط يجري التفاوض عليها بين كلا الفريقين، وتعلن بداية اللعبة حيث يقوم شخص من الفريق الذي يحتفظ بالخاتم بإخفائه بطريقة سرية لدى أعضائه، بعدها يصيح بصوت عال بات أي أن الخاتم استقر في إحدى الأيادي، وهنا يأتي دور لاعب من الفريق المنافس الثاني الذي يمرر نظراته على أيدي الفريق الخصم وينتقي أشخاصاً يشك بوجود الخاتم معهم ويستثنيهم من الأمر الذي يصدره لبقية أعضاء الفريق بأن يفتح الجميع أيديهم، وفي هذه المرحلة يجب ألاّ يظهر الخاتم مع أحد من المشاركين، بل يبقى مستقراً لدى أحد الذين استثناهم اللاعب المحترف من الفريق، ثم تأتي المرحلة الثانية من اللعبة الشعبية وهي مرحلة استخراج الخاتم من الأيادي القليلة المغلقة والتي تستغرق وقتاً طويلاً حسب ذكاء اللاعب وتمرسه، وما أن يكتشف اللاعب مكان الخاتم حتى يحتفظ به لفريقه وتبدأ نفس المرحلة ولكن بتبادل الأدوار. وتتخلل فترة الاستراحة بين لاعبي الفريقين تقديم فقرات غنائية تراثية يؤدونها بأنفسهم أو يستضيفون أحد مغنيّ المقام العراقي ليؤدي لهم ما يُسمى بالمربعات.
"
لان احنا من لعبناها مره ويا بنات خوالي وخالاتي كعدنا فريقين , كل فريق خمسه, ونضم المحبس عد وحده, ومن الفريق اللاخ يتفقون ووحده تحجي تكول بيا ايد, واكيد بعد ان نكول بات , اي ان المحبس بات بايد فلانه, وكل ما يعرف الفريق مكان المحبس تزدادله نقطه, وبالاخير على عدد النقاط نحدد الفائز .. اما بالنسبه الي ولخواتي, فاني وحدي فريق و هم فريق, اي عيني هيجي الحجي, وبكيفي وينما اضم المحبس اضمه, بايدي برجلي وره ظهري, باي مكان.. ونلعب ونخلص
بس دائما اني اخسر
يااااااااااااااا
اتمنى افوز!!
هههههههههههههههه

Sally,
hello sally!! welocome to my blog!!
thanks for passing by and yes, i agree, teenagers should create their own club, without ammus, lol.. but, maybe ammu khalid will disagree, hmmmmm. ket's see. lol
and the blog link you sent me cant be opened here, i think it is blocked.. anyways, thanks..

Khalid,
thaaaaaaaaaaanks ammu!!

البرجوازي العراقي

لا الصدك غير؟ احب ساندي بل اكثر, ساندي بل تكدر تسوي زلابيه من اعلمها اني , هههههههههه, لكن الزلابيه متجيبلي ساندي بل
هههههههههههههههه

اشكرك عيوني على الاقتراح وراح احاول ارسم وانشر, بس عليك الله مو تضحك عليه, اي رجاءا, ههههههههههههه سلام وتحيات

اما بالنسبه للعزيز ياسر
thanks yasser, and i hope everything will go on well with you..
ok, i will update the post soon -when i'll take a breathe ;) and publish a family's pic with al zebeeb juice. as SW suggested (btw, thanks my dear SW , you are so cute, as usual :D)

كتكمله بسيطه للقصيده,
واحسرتاه متى انام
فاحس ان على الوساده
من ليلك الصيفي طلا فيه عطرك ياعراق؟
بين القرى المتهيبات خطاي والمدن الغريبه,
غنيت تربتك الحبيبه.. وحملتها فانا المسيح يجر في المنفى صليبه..

thanks for my other friends, for the so nice words... Be blessed..

Khalid from iraqiblogupdates.blogspot.com/ said...

Dear Sandona,

The following is the corrected version of my comment:

Shamosa Al Warda,

A nice picture and a very powerful title " "Ramdan unites us" and all in all a lovley post.

Congratulations!

Yes let us be united against all our enemies who want to destroy our beautiful country. Lets forget the problems of the past and start to re-build our country.

شموسة الوردة هذا جميل وحلو ويحوي صور لذيذة وكان ملفتاً ان تبدأي بهذا الشعار الهائل ومن بعده النخلة المباركة وما تلاها من صور لتقاليدنا الرمضانية العتيدة وحلوياتها الشهيرة ونعم ليوحدنا رمضان ولننسى ما يبعث على اختلافنا فالله وحده يحكم فيما اختلف فيه الناس وهنا فان علينا نشر المحبة والمودة والتآلف بين ابناء شعبنا وماكتبيه ومع كل هذه الصور المعبرة يؤدي هذه المهمة التي هي مسؤوليتنا جميعاً


هنيئاً لك يا شمس يا اصيلة

هنيئاً لك قلبك الطيب الذي يحب الجميع

هنيئاً لك ان الله عز وجل قد جعلك عامل وحدة احبها الرب دائماً وليس عامل فرقة قد نبذهاالرب وفي مواضع كثيرة


تقبلي احترامي وتقديري الشديدين

moonlight said...

Halaw 7abibty, Shlonich?
This post is amazing ya Sandybelle!!! The food *mouth waters* looks delicious wil 5oboz...oh don't get me started on the bread! you're quite right about Iraqis missing out on it who don't live in Iraq :(. You've made me hungry and I just had iftar a few hours ago :P hehehe
Take care and enjoy the rest of your Ramadan inshallah :)

-bosat min america <3

Anonymous said...

A very beautiful post, and great pics.

زهرة الراوي said...

شوكرااااااااااااااان شموسة على الشرح المفصل :)

هاااا .. هيجي لعد ..

بس ضحكت عليج شلون يعني إنتي فريق؟ هههههههههههه على كولتج تضميه بإيدج برجلج ؟؟

الله يحفظكم لبعض إن شاء الله ويتمم عليكم بوجود أمكم إن شاء الله

Al-Basri said...

I never thought that a young lady like you can b einterested in the iraqi ramadan, but why not, if this lady is too kind, too great and too smart!

Alfred said...

A very nice post from Iraq. Thanks Sandybelle, very interesting.