It's my party and I can Halay if I want to
Fool for Culture
OK. We get invited to our first party. Not just any party, but a circumcision party. You heard right. A circumcision party. Now, before you cover the kids eyes, nothing actually happens at the party. Well, not in front of all the guests anyway... Well, let me start at the beginning, OK?
There is a very important event that takes place in the life of a young man here in this country. When he is between the ages of six and nine, he is circumsized. It has religious significance as well as a passage of sorts into manhood.
The day is celebrated with great fanfare. The boy is dressed in a royal looking outfit and paraded around town in a convertible. He is typically accompanied by a drumner and someone playing what sounds like a clarinet.
The boy is taken to visit relatives and close friends who give him appropriate gifts. The party ends up at a garden or meeting hall where all his close friends and family wait for him.
Traditionally, at this point, the boy would be taken to a back room where the "procedure" would be performed and then he would be brought out on a little bed and paraded around the room for well wishes and blessings from the family. There is food, dancing and much celebration that night.
Our particular party was a bit modern. The circumcision did not take place that night. (I don't know when it happened. They didn't offer and I didn't ask.) The boy was able to have fun and dance with the rest of us.
There were several courses of food and we learned to dance the traditional halay. When the men dance, it is really more of a sport than a dance and it is very entertaining. They kept pulling Jeff out on the dance floor and that was a treat to watch! We really had a great time though and got to practice our language, which is always a plus.
The family in these photos are friends of ours and his nephew was the one celebrating the big day!
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