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themagnuswriters · 4 years ago

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Writing a Muslim Character

The Mods of the Magnus Writers discord server and community are putting together a variety of resources for Magnus Archives fan creators; these have been collated from articles on the topics, our own experiences, and the experiences of the members of the Magnus Writers discord. These are definitely not comprehensive or the only viewpoints out there, and are by no means meant as a way to police fanworks, but as a way to support and inspire fan creators in creating thoughtful and diverse works. Please note that external links will be added in a reblog to outsmart tumblr’s terrible tagging system, so make sure to check those out as well!

This resource in particular was put together by Mod Jasmine: hi, all!

While there are no canonically Muslim characters in TMA, Muslim headcanons are common in fanworks—particularly for Basira, and sometimes Jon (which I love to see!). I have cobbled together this post from my own experiences to help support and inform fans in these areas, and as part of my diabolical plan to get more Muslim!Basira and Muslim!Jon fics to shove into my brain.

First, two gigantic caveats:

I was raised Sunni Muslim in Egypt, which is a majority Sunni Muslim country, and still live there. This means my experience will be very different from someone raised in a majority Christian country like the UK, and different again if they are not Sunni and not Arab.

I am currently ex-Muslim. This does not mean I bear any ill will towards Islam or Muslims, just that it wasn’t for me, and I felt it was important to be upfront about that. I’ll be linking to resources by practicing Muslims in the reblog to this post, whether to add to my opinions and experiences or provide you with a different opinion. I am not here to put my voice over that of Muslims, just to do some of the work so they don’t have to. Obviously, if any Muslims have any additions or suggestions for this post, I’m happy to accommodate them.

Alright. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get started with the basics of writing a Muslim character.

(Warning: this is absurdly, absurdly long)

Basics:

Muslims follow two main sources of religious instruction: Quran and Hadith.

The Quran is the holy book, considered to be dictated by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed, who then relayed what he was told to his followers. It is composed of surahs, or chapters, which have individual ayat, or verses. There are no varying versions of the Quran, later additions, or anything considered lost in translation. Any Arabic Quran is considered to be the same text that the Prophet Mohammed relayed, unchanged. As a result, while Muslims can debate interpretations of the Quran (although that’s often still left to the scholars), none debate the actual words of the text.

Hadith, meanwhile, are the sayings or teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. Their validity can be disputed, as they were written by his followers after his death, and mainly depend on having several witnesses for a specific saying or situation. The more witnesses there were, the more valid the hadith is considered to be.

When in doubt or should there be any contradiction between the Quran and Hadith, Muslims will always refer to the Quran first and foremost.

Denominations:

The bigggest (but not only!) divisions of Islam are Sunni and Shia, and both of those have separate madhabs, which are the separate thoughts and stances of specific Imams. When writing a Muslim character, a good first step would be to decide where your character’s family might have come from, as that could help inform which denomination your character might belong to. This will in turn inform things like the beliefs they grew up with, how they pray, their holy holidays, and so on. Obviously, all denominations fall under the bigger umbrella of Muslim, but can vary in practice.

Background:

The intersection of culture and religion affects a character beyond which denomination they likely belong to, such as whether they call prayer salah or namaz, the foods they might associate with Ramadan or Eid, and their community’s stance on things like hijab and alcohol.

One thing to keep in mind is that being Muslim is not synonymous with being Arab and vice versa. Not all Arabs are Muslim, not all Muslims are Arab or even Middle Eastern. In fact, the largest Muslim country in the world is Indonesia. That said, depending on your character’s race and backround, there is the potential they may have faced Arab elitism or other strands of racism within Muslim circles. Please see the reblog of this post for an article about one Black British Muslim woman’s experience with racism.

And, of course, your character and their family do not need to have been immigrants at all. They or their family may have been converts instead. According to most Muslim schools of thought, all that’s required for a person to be Muslim is stating the shahada in Arabic, honestly and with intent. It goes, “Ashhadu an la ilah illa Allah, wa an Mohammadan rasul Allah,” which translates as “I bear witness that there is no god but God, and that Mohammed is His prophet.” Shia Muslims, I believe, have an additional section, but otherwise that’s it. Recite that in front of witnesses with sincere belief and that’s all you need to be Muslim.

Pillars of Islam:

These are the duties or cornerstones of a Muslim’s faith and considered to be acts every Muslim should strive for. What the pillars are can, I think, differ between denominations, with Shia Muslims having additional ancillaries as well (any Shia readers, please feel free to correct me!) but both denominations agree that the following are important:

Salah—prayer

Sawm—fasting during Ramadan

Zakat—giving a certain percentage of income to charity or the community

Hajj—pilgrimage to Mecca

In all cases, these are considered mandatory only for those who are able. A person who cannot perform hajj, whether due to not being physically able to or lacking the funds to travel, is under no obligation.

Prayer:

Prayer is performed five times a day while facing the Qibla, which is the direction of Mecca. Prayer is formed of units, called rak’at, which consists of a set of actions done in a specific order. The “How to Pray Salah, Step by Step” article linked in the reblog of this post provides fairly good prayer instructions for beginners, so check it out for details! These include bowing, prostrating, and reciting some surahs.

Each of the five daily prayers has a different number of rak’at, as well as its own name and allotted time of day, as follows:

Fajr, which means Dawn and can be performed at any point until the sun rises (two rak’at).

Dhuhr, which means Noon (four rak’at)

Asr, performed in the afternoon (four rak’at)

Maghreb, which means sunset and can be performed at any point until it’s dark (three rak’at)

Isha, performed at night and can be done at any point until dawn (four rak’at)

The specific time of prayer will differ day to day and place to place, according to the sun, but those are the rough timeframes for each. It’s generally preferred that a Muslim does their prayer on time, but in practice some Muslims find it difficult to wake up for Fajr, for instance, and just try to make sure they get a morning prayer in before noon.

On Friday, there is a congregational Friday prayer at Dhuhr in a mosque called the Jumu’a prayer (which, fun fact, literally means gathering and is also the Arabic name for Friday!). Only men are required to take part in the congregation, however.

In Muslim majority countries, the time for prayer is announced by the adhaan, the call to prayer, from mosques and in media. This won’t be the case in the UK, and the character will likely have to rely on an adhaan app or looking up what time prayer should be.

There are various requirements for a prayer to be correct, chief of which is facing the Qibla and purity. Before performing prayer, a Muslim must purify themself by performing wudu, or ablutions, which basically involves washing the hands, arms, nostrils, face, head, and feet a specific number of times using clean water. The way I was taught these must be performed in a certain order, and the person shouldn’t speak during or after until their prayer is finished. This may be different for others.

Wudu is considered valid until nullified by bodily functions such as urinating, defecating, vomiting, flatulence, or any sexual activity. For Sunni Muslims, it’s also invalidated by going to sleep. If none of these have happened, a Muslim can perform more than one prayer using the same wudu.

Notably, a Muslim cannot pray if they’re on their period, as they’re considered in a state of impurity.

Another important requirement is that a Muslim be dressed modestly for prayer. The general guideline is that Muslim men should cover the area between their navel and knees with loose, non-revealing clothing, and that during prayer it’s preferred that they cover their chests as well Muslim women should cover everything except their face, hands, and feet. This means that a woman who isn’t hijabi would still wrap a hijab for prayer. For nonbinary Muslims, I don’t think there are specific guidelines yet, although please feel free to correct me.

If praying at home, a family may choose to pray together. In this case, the male head of the household usually stands at the front and acts as Imam, leading the prayer. Other men will tend to be in front of or beside women, as generally women should not pray in front of a man. This is the case even, especially, if he is not praying.

Children aren’t required to pray, as they’re considered innocent and have no obligations, but may want to take part early on or may be encouraged to practice.

Praying is one area you’ll find denominational differences. For example, while Sunnis fold their arms in prayer, Shia keep their arms to their side, and while Shia Muslims make sure their foreheads touch a piece of clay or earth when they prostrate, Sunnis do not. If you write your character praying, keep these details in mind.

Fasting:

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from Fajr (dawn) until Maghreb (sunset) every day. This means they abstain from consuming anything—yes, even water, cigarettes, and medicine. They should also abstain from sexual activities and cursing. Most importantly, they must have the intention to be fasting. This means that not eating and drinking because they were asleep for that entire period of time or just lost track and forgot does not count as fasting.

Generally, the idea is more to try to be more pious and avoid sin throughout the month. It’s thought that the shaytan (or devil) is chained up during Ramadan, so any temptation or sinning is a person’s own doing. The way I was raised, I was taught that sawm/fasting is invalidated by sexual thoughts and raising your voice as well. Many people also try to dress more modestly during Ramadan, with some women opting for looser clothing or a headscarf. Many Muslims will try to read the whole Quran during Ramadan.

After Maghreb, Muslims break their fast with Iftar (which means breakfast, hah) and have a late night meal called Suhour. Since the Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar, Ramadan is 11 days earlier every year. Depending on when Ramadan falls in the year, there can be barely any time between iftar and suhour in certain parts of the world, as the sun is up for so much of the day.

Given the length of time and difficulty involved, there are exceptions and allowances for fasting. A person is not required to fast if they are:

A child (up to puberty)

Ill or has a medical condition such as diabetes

Pregnant

Travelling

On their period

In fact, if they are on their period it will not be counted, even if they do fast. That said, sometimes people choose to fast while travelling anyway, as travel is less strenuous now than it used to be. If they’re crossing time zones they will have to consider which time zone they’re breaking their fast to. As far as I remember, it’s based on the time zone of the place they just left or started their fast in.

If an obstacle to fasting is temporary, such as their period, they’re expected to make those days up with additional fasting before next Ramadan. Otherwise, they are allowed to make up for the lost fast in another way, such as by donating money or feeding fasting people. Whether due to societal pressure (which is formidable in Muslim-majority countries) or out of consideration for others who are fasting, those who are not fasting for whatever reason may often choose to hide this and only eat in secret.

If a person forgets they were fasting or accidentally consumes something, it does not invalidate the fast , and as soon as they remember or realise the mistake they can have the intention to fast again and continue with their day.

While children are exempt, many families will start them off by fasting for half a day so they can build up to a full day when they hit puberty.

Ramadan traditions vary wildly from country to country and culture to culture, but generally it’s a time for family gathering and celebration. Often there are special Ramadan-specific food, drink, and decorations, and it ends with Eid ul-Fitr which has its own specific foods and celebrations. Basically, imagine if Christmas lasted a month. That’s how big a deal Ramadan is.

In my experience, the first few days are usually the hardest. Water is what I tended to miss the most, even if I managed to stay up long enough or set an alarm to wake up to drink just before fajr, followed closely by swearing. Anyone who drinks caffeine or smokes cigarettes will likely find abstaining from those more difficult than water. By the end of the month, though, it gets much easier and I often got to the point where I barely noticed. I will say, however, that the longest I’ve had to fast has been maybe 16 hours. A summer Ramadan in the UK would be more difficult due to the much later sunsets.

Halal and Haram:

Halal means “permissible,” while haram means “forbidden.” You might have heard these words in passing before, such as halal food, but they are used for many areas of life.

Things that are considered haram include:

Consuming, serving, or trading in intoxicants, such as alcohol

Consuming improperly slaughtered meat or meat from forbidden animals, such as pork

Extramarital sex

Tattoos

Gambling

Men wearing silk or gold

A Muslim woman marrying a non-Muslim man (although it’s fine for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman)

Being immodest

Modesty is expected of all genders, including men. If you’ll recall from the section on prayer, the general guideline for male modesty is that they should cover the area between their navel and knees with loose, non-revealing clothing. Note that for women, modesty does not necessarily involve wearing a hijab. There is actually a ton of controversy as to whether the hijab is a fard (requirement) or not, as described in the following section.

The Hijab:

To be hijabi takes more than just throwing on a headscarf. As a word, hijab means “barrier” or “veil,” and a hijabi person would be expected to cover everything except their face and the palms of their hands, and to ensure that their clothes are loose and non-revealing. It all comes from an interpretation of two verses in the Quran that many scholars nowadays agree to mean the hijab is required, and that some say actually call for a face covering as well, which is called a niqab.

This wasn’t always the case, however, and these days there is still the occasional controversial scholar (I remember a few kerfuffles coming out of Egypt’s Al-Azhar mosque recently) saying it isn’t and has never been required at all. At least in the Arab world, this is largely due to the wave of Wahhabism (which is a specifically fundamentalist interpretation of Islam) that’s taken over the region in the past half a century. Before that, the idea of a hijab being a religious requirement was less widespread.

I’m not here to argue who’s right or wrong, just to make you aware that the hijab as we know it today hasn’t always been considered a requirement for a Muslim woman. Most of the women of my family never wore any form of head covering, but more and more they are an exception rather than the norm.

The choice of whether to wear a hijab can mean very different things, depending on the surrounding culture. For instance, my grandmother, the strictest woman I have ever known, got married in a very cute sleeveless dress that went just under the knees, and when she grew older she wore a head-covering more as a cultural indication of age rather than any religious reason. In my generation, in a country with a Muslim majority, lack of visible signs of devoutness have become almost a class marker, with some upper-class women using their lack of head-covering as a sign that they are “more Westernized” or “modern.” And again, I want to emphasize that this is the case for my country only.

This will be completely different for Muslim minorities, where the hijab can become a symbol of pride and unity.

I will say that it’s very rare for women to be forced into getting veiled, whether in Muslim minority or majority countries. I’m not saying it never happens, just that it’s not the “oppressive tool of the patriarchy” outsiders sometimes think it is. Women may face some societal pressure, but by and large it is considered a choice and often an empowering one. In fact, I have friends whose families discouraged them from wearing a hijab too young and emphasized only taking the decision when they were sure they wanted to. If writing a Muslim character when you’re non-Muslim, I strongly suggest not trying to tackle the story of someone forced into a hijab, as there’s a lot of nuance there and it’s very easy to fall into harmful stereotypes. The hijabi woman who gets “liberated” and takes off her hijab is also overdone and harmful. Please don’t.

Everyday Life:

Muslims are not a monolithic entity, and some will be more devout or religious than others. There are those who will pray their five a day and others who only pray during Ramadan or Eid, some who don’t drink and some who do, hijabis who dress only in loose clothing and those who wear tight trousers or show some of their hair, some who have tattoos, and some who may date or even have sex before marriage. However, this isn’t a carte-blanche not to do research when writing a Muslim character, because even if they break a rule of Islam, they will be conscious of it, may be concerned about their community’s response to it, and in any case will be affected by it.

For instance, I know many Muslims who drink alcohol. Some interpret the text differently, saying that since the sin is getting drunk then they won’t drink enough to get drunk, just buzzed. Some only do it on special occasions or on vacation, saying they know it’s a sin but it’s fine on occasion and they’ll repent later. All of them would probably dive under a table if they thought their family was nearby.

For more opinions on Muslims and dealing with alcohol, take a look at the “Islam and Alcohol” article linked in the reblog of this post.

Here are things that a character who is a practicing Muslim might do or be concerned about in their day to day life:

Checking ingredients to make sure they’re all halal. This goes for things like food, drink, medicine, anything consumable. Things like gelatine capsules are only halal if the source of the gelatine is itself halal, for instance.

Keeping up with their prayers. With five prayers a day, some will inevitably happen while they’re out of the house. Some Muslims prefer to just group their prayers when they get home, but since it’s preferable to do prayers on time, others may try to pray while out and about This means considering the following:

Finding a bathroom for wudu. Part of wudu involves washing feet and the head, which isn’t feasible in a public location or if the person is hijabi and doesn’t want to unwrap and rewrap their hijab. In that case, they can generally wipe a wet hand over their socks and top of their head covering.

They may carry a prayer carpet or have one stashed in a convenient location, but it’s not a must.

Finding a clean and secluded place to pray. Generally, it’s not done to pray in a place where someone will pass in front of you, and a woman must also take care to pray away from men’s eyes.

Figuring out where the Qibla is. Luckily, there are apps for that.

If a woman is not hijabi, she would have to carry a veil and, depending on her clothes, something to cover up so she can pray.

If they’re hijabi, they’ll probably have to adjust or re-wrap their hijab throughout the day, depending on the material and their activities. This would typically happen in bathrooms or any other space that doesn’t include men, as they can’t reveal themselves to any men who aren’t of their immediate family. For more on the hijab, and the day to day realities of wearing and wrapping one, take a look at the links provided in the reblog of this post.

A Muslim woman may choose not to accept handshakes from men who aren’t family. She has probably considered how to deal with that potential awkwardness.

If they’re fasting, they might carry some dates or biscuits or something in case they need to break their fast while on the go.

If making plans, they might say, “Insha’allah” which means “God willing.” I was always admonished to do so to acknowledge the future is entirely within God’s hands.

If asked how they are, they might reply with “Alhamdullilah” which means “Thanks be to God.”

When starting to eat, they may say, “Bismillah,” which means “In the name of God” and when done eating may say “Alhamdullilah.” These can also be invoked silently.

As you might have noticed, Allah’s name is invoked pretty often. While it’s not preferable to swear using God’s name just to make a point (“Wallahi”), there’s nothing against it, really.

Fundamentally, an important thing to remember is that Islam is a religion of ease and not hardship. This is an actual Quranic quote. What this means is, it may seem like there are a lot of rules to keep in mind, but there are also a ton of allowances for when those rules aren’t feasible, just like the case for fasting above. Other allowances include how an elderly or disabled person who may not be able to perform the motions of prayer can pray while sitting in a chair or even lying in bed. If there isn’t any clean water to purify before prayer or if using the water would mean lack of drinking water, a Muslim can use dust or sand to purify, and if no dust or sand is available then they don’t need to purify at all and can simply pray.

This means that, say, if your Muslim Jon wants to pray while kidnapped by the circus, he can, even without being able to perform wudu, even without knowing where the Qibla is, even without being able to move or say anything at all.

For more day-to-day tidbits, check out the “More on writing Muslim characters” link in the reblog of this post.

LGBTQ Muslims:

Needless to say, Queer Muslims absolutely do exist, and their being Muslim doesn’t cancel out their queerness or vice versa. While there are Quranic verses that have been interpreted as condemning homosexuality, there are also other interpretations, and queerness has existed in Muslim societies for ages. There was a ton of homoerotic imagery among Abbasid poets during the Golden Age of Islam, for example.

However, modern-day attitudes can be difficult to get around, and queer Muslims may have difficulty finding their place in both Muslim spaces and queer spaces, the latter which often expect them to reject religiosity.

Although I am queer myself, I don’t feel it’s my place to speak for queer Muslims and their relationships with their communities beyond this, so I’ll let some queer practicing Muslims speak for themselves. Please see the reblog of this post for valuable contributions from queer Muslims about their experiences.

Miscellaneous:

This is mostly for all the random tidbits I thought up while writing this that didn’t fit anywhere else and also because I don’t know when to quit apparently, SO!

Allah is just Arabic for God. Muslims can and do use these terms interchangeably, such as saying “God willing,” instead of “Inshallah,” even in an Arabic-speaking country.

Also, God has 99 names! Just a fun fact for you there.

The Devil in Islam is pretty different from his Christian counterpart. Referred to as Iblis or Shaytan, among other names, he is not a fallen angel and there is no great revolt story, nor is he considered a root of all evil. Instead, he is a djinn made of smokeless flame who refused to bow down to Adam, as he felt he was made of superior stuff and not about to bow to a creature made of mud. His disdain for humanity is what has caused him and other shayateen/demons to try and tempt humans.

A person’s right hand is considered purer than their left, so it’s encouraged to always eat with your right hand. Unfortunately, this does mean left-handed people face something of a stigma—or at least that’s the case here in Egypt. My cousins, both lefties, both eat with their right hand, though they do everything else with their left.

Similarly, it is considered better to enter spaces with your right foot, though only the most devout are likely to think of this all the time. This is especially considered for entering a mosque or new home.

A Muslim might say or write “Peace be Upon Him” whenever the Prophet Mohammed is mentioned, written as (PBUH), and “Subhanuh wa Taala” when mentioning Allah, written as (SWT).

The Evil Eye is mentioned in the Quran as “hasad,” and considered to be a very real thing. This jealous or envious energy is considered able to ruin good things in your life, even if the jealous person didn’t intend to. There are some surahs that are considered good to ward against it, as well as incense, the colour blue, the number five, and the symbols of the nazar (which is a round, blue-ringed eye) and the khamsa (an open five-fingered palm, also known as the Hand of Fatima). The nazar, khamsa, and belief in the evil eye aren’t unique to Islam at all. What is unique to Islam is that a Muslim might preface a compliment with “Masha’allah” which means “As God wills it,” to ward off their own evil eye.

Much of the Quran in Arabic rhymes and is very poetic, which can make surahs easy to memorise by rhythm. It can also make recitations by a skilled reader very lovely.

#the magnus archives #tma #writing resources #muslim characters

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megamikethomson · 5 years ago

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For what reason is Stephen's Day called Boxing Day? 12 yuletide questions replied

What is Christmas?

The short answer is that it's a Christian celebration that commends the introduction of Jesus.According to the nativity story, Mary and Joseph went from their home in Nazareth (in what is presently Israel) to Bethlehem (in what is currently the West Bank) to participate in a registration. Months sooner, Mary had been visited by the Holy messenger Gabriel and advised she would bring forth a kid who she would name Jesus, and who might be the child of God. The youngster was conveyed in a stable. Shepherds and astute men brought birthday presents.

The holy book doesn't indicate the date of Jesus' introduction to the world. A few people have recommended it was in the spring due to the custom of sending sheep into the fields at that season. "What's more, in a similar district there were a few shepherds remaining out in the fields, and overseeing their herd around evening time." (Luke 2:8)

So how could it come to fall on December 25th?

In the fourth century, Pope Julius I picked December 25th as the date of the Banquet of the Nativity. It required a long time to get on. Christmas didn't arrive at northern Europe until the finish of the eighth century, and Christmas Day didn't turn into a government occasion in the US until 1870.

December 25th is the day that the Roman Catholic and Protestant places of worship observe Christmas, however numerous Conventional Christians utilize the Julian schedule, which runs 13 days behind the standard global Gregorian schedule, for strict celebrations. Christmas is commended by Universal Christians on January seventh in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova and Montenegro.

The three savvy men are said to have brought the infant Jesus presents on the twelfth day of Christmas. Photo: iStock The three shrewd men are said to have brought the child Jesus presents on the twelfth day of Christmas. Photo: iStock So there was no Christmas season before the introduction of Jesus?

Not as a celebration to commend the nativity, clearly. In any case, the motivation behind why Pope Julius I picked December 25th was to suitable agnostic midwinter celebrations and change them into a Christian event.

In Scandinavia, the Norse observed Jul (Yule) from the winter solstice (December 21st) for whatever length of time that it took for enormous logs to wear out, for the most part around 12 days. There was a lot of meat as creatures were butchered so they wouldn't require sustaining over the winter, and home-blended wine and brew was prepared for drinking at Yuletide.In Rome, Saturnalia – regarding Saturn, the divine force of agribusiness – started just before the winter solstice and proceeded for seven days. Men dressed as ladies, experts dressed as workers, and there was a lot of devouring and rambunctious conduct.

In the English Isles, druids slice and favored mistletoe to check the winter solstice.

Also, it's been "consistently Christmastime" from that point forward?

Not exactly. At the point when Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan powers took over Britain, Christmas was prohibited. Noticing that the date of Jesus' introduction to the world isn't in the Book of scriptures, the Puritans chose it was each of the an only a pseudo-Christian shine for the previous agnostic celebrations. In 1644, Christmas was banned – no designs, no mince pies and certainly no debauchery. A Mandate for Annulling of Celebrations was passed by parliament in June 1647 restricting Christmas, Easter and Whitsun.

In the US, where the Puritans were considerably progressively, well, puritan, anybody demonstrating a touch of Christmas soul in Boston confronted a strong fine of five shillings. Some alluded to Christmas as "Foolstide".

Sovereign Albert brought the principal Christmas tree from Germany to Victoria and the regal family unit during the 1840s Ruler Albert brought the primary Christmas tree from Germany to Victoria and the imperial family unit during the 1840s

Alongside the government in England, the celebration was before long reestablished, and it was the Victorians who truly molded Christmas as we probably am aware it today. They initiated hymn singing, brightening trees and the trading of cards. The principal Christmas tree was brought from Germany by Ruler Albert to the English illustrious family unit during the 1840s.

Nowadays, around 7,000,000 genuine trees are sold in the UK every year, and upwards of 30 million in the US. Spending on Christmas presents arrived at a top in 2014, at a normal of €670 per family in the UK. Common month to month family spending in the UK on nourishment increments by 20 percent in December, and liquor buys increment by 30 percent.

So it's to a greater extent an industrialist party than a Christian celebration now?

Maybe, however Christmas is likewise a blast time for chapels, with numerous individuals going to Mass over the occasion regardless of whether they don't believe themselves to be adherents. Indeed, even some solidified nonbelievers discover light lit 12 PM Mass on Christmas Eve or a youngsters' nativity administration difficult to stand up to.

Shouldn't something be said about non-Christians – those of different beliefs, or of no confidence?

Undoubtedly, there are a great deal of them. Instead of being angry of a Christian celebration, Muslims regularly focus on additional philanthropy work over the Christmas time frame, and a few mosques hold extraordinary talks about Jesus, who is considered in Islam to be a prophet. The celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which denotes the finish of the heavenly month of Ramadan, is some of the time called (by non-Muslims) what could be compared to Christmas in to the extent it is a period gone through with family and when presents are traded. Whenever Eid al-Fitr and Christmas harmonize is 2033.

The expression "Merry Christmas" has gotten ordinary in numerous parts as a catch-for Christmas, Hanukkah (the Jewish celebration which falls near Christmas), and the non-strict. "Chrismukkah" interfaith welcome cards are accessible for the individuals who need to stamp both.

Where for the sake of Jesus did mince pies originate from?

Today, they are round and sweet, yet they used to be elongated and appetizing. Mince pies go back to the thirteenth century, when they were known as sheep, minched, shrid or Christmas pies, and contained essentially meat alongside suet, foods grown from the ground.

The Victorians made them better, in spite of the fact that suet remained some portion of the "mincemeat" formula until nourishment organizations tuned into the necessities of veggie lovers and vegans.Few individuals make their own without any preparation nowadays, and for what reason would you when you can look over chocolate and cherry mince pies, gin mince pies, salted caramel mince pies, chocolate orange mince pies … ? Mince Pies: When loaded up with sheep, they're currently normally veggie lover, aside from the infrequent consideration of suet Mince Pies: When loaded up with lamb, they're presently generally vegan, with the exception of the intermittent incorporation of suet Shouldn't something be said about turkeys?

All things considered, goose, fowl, swan and peacocks were the meal feathered creatures of decision for the Christmas supper table for quite a long time. Lord Henry VIII was known to eat turkey at Christmas not long after the winged creature was acquainted with Britain in 1526, however it didn't get across the board until the 1950s.

Peacocks were at one time the meat of decision for the imperial Christmas supper table. Photo: iStock Peacocks were before the meat of decision for the illustrious Christmas supper table. Photo: iStock Who is Santa Clause Claus?

Otherwise known as Santy, Father Christmas and St Nicholas. Nicholas was a fourth-century minister, a rich man who subtly offered blessings to poor people. One recipient was a man with three girls who couldn't manage the cost of shares to wed them off. Nicholas let a pack of gold fall down the man's smokestack which fell into a stocking that had been hung up to dry.

The religious administrator was aggrieved, banished and detained for his confidence. After his demise on December sixth, the date turned into an event on which youngsters were given little blessings in his memory and, in certain nations, kids still open introduces on St Nicholas' Eve, December fifth.

Afterward, St Nicholas was usurped in pop culture by Father Christmas, Santy or Santa Clause Claus. As indicated by legend, he goes through the sky on a sledge pulled by eight reindeer decorated with jingle ringers to slide down stacks and store shows by the chimney.

St Nicholas: A fourth century cleric who furtively offered endowments to poor people. Photoraph: iStock St Nicholas: A fourth century priest who furtively offered endowments to poor people. Photoraph: iStock For what reason is St Stephen's Day called Boxing Day?

The name, for the most part utilized in the UK for December 26th, alludes to a Christmas box customarily given to workers and tradespeople, containing cash, a present and at times extra nourishment.

In any case, Christmas doesn't end there. In principle, the Christmas celebration endures 12 days, until January sixth, the day when the three insightful men turned up in Bethlehem with presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh for infant Jesus. Customarily, the festivals proceed and the enhancements stay set up until twelfth night, otherwise called Revelation.

The tune The 12 Days of Christmas, which began life as an eighteenth century rhyme before being combined with a good soundtrack by Frederic Austin in 1909, logs every one of the presents given to the vocalist by their genuine romance, running from a partridge in a pear tree to 12 drummers drumming. One UK money related administrations bunch gauges the expense of the blessings this year at more than €33,000.

How would you pay for a house cleaner a-draining?

It's not clear. You can't consider them house keepers any more, and most draining is finished by machine.

What next?

Easter! This is the Christian celebration denoting the torturous killing and restoration of Jesus. The hole among Christmas and Easter shifts somewhere in the range of three and four months, and in 2019 it's on the external edge of that range with Easter falling on the third few days of April. Or on the other hand, for the unflinchingly non-Christian, there's the spring equinox on Spring 21st.

Up to that point, Happy Christmas.

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prongsmydeer · 7 years ago

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I’ve previously stated that when people say “Why have James and Harry as POC?” it’s fair enough to respond, “Why not?” but there are also some reasons that specifically drive me towards representing them that way. So, without further ado, here’s why I tend to view James Potter as a person of colour.

(Please note that this isn’t about authorial intent, since I’m more than aware that JKR doesn’t exactly write with the purpose of people reading her main characters as POC. It’s more about how the narrative connects as a reader, as well as some personal preferences.)

Racially-Coded Language Directed At James

[...] Mrs. Dursley pretended she didn't have a sister, because her sister and her good-for-nothing husband were as unDursleyish as it was possible to be. The Dursleys shuddered to think what the neighbors would say if the Potters arrived in the street. The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a small son, too, but they had never even seen him. This boy was another good reason for keeping the Potters away; they didn't want Dudley mixing with a child like that. (PS1)

and, after Vernon claims James had been unemployed in POA:

“As I expected!” said Aunt Marge, taking a huge swig of brandy and wiping her chin on her sleeve. “A no-account, good-for-nothing, lazy scrounger who —” (POA2)

There’s a very specific trend in the way that the Dursleys speak about James. “Good-for-nothing,” as soon as he’s introduced, a sentiment repeated by Marge. “Wastrel” in that same chapter of POA. And the way that Marge reacts to James being “unemployed” is very much akin to anti-immigrant rhetoric, i.e. considering them a drain of public resources. It’s classist too, certainly, but that’s not divorced from racial dynamics. The greatest employment disparities in Britain occur among ethnic minorities. And that’s in recent reports. I can guarantee it was worse approximately 30 years ago, during the setting of HP. On top of that, the idea that the Harry’s “otherness” can be identified on sight also reads like an allusion to race.

Harry’s Appearance

He shot a nasty look sideways at Harry, whose untidy hair had always been a source of great annoyance to Uncle Vernon. (POA2)

and

Professor Flitwick was walking past a boy with untidy black hair . . . very untidy black hair. . . (OOTP28)

James and Harry share most of their features. The most prominent of these is by far James’s hair, which is consistently described as both “black” and “untidy.” Neither is a trait exclusive to people of colour, but there certainly is a tendency for people of colour to face greater scrutiny for the state of their hair. The Dursleys’ view that having “improper” hair somehow equates lacking societal worth is much along those lines. It’s not at all unreasonable to relate Harry’s struggle with his hair as partly the product of his heritage.

Dynamic Balance Between James and Lily

This one is a point of personal preference. Since we know so little about either James or Lily, it’s hard to gauge what exactly their relationship was like. But I absolutely love the idea of James as a person of colour and a pure-blood while Lily is white and Muggle-born. Although there’s a claim that there’s no racism in the wizarding world (I’d question that, but that’s a different post), there certainly would be in 1970s Muggle UK. It’s an interesting dynamic to engage with — James, completely unaware of why people would look askew his relationship with Lily even in the Muggle world. Lily, turning indignant protector for James, while people dislike him for his heritage. It’s all the appeal of a role reversal AU but built into canon-compliance.

Presumption of Delinquency

For the space of a heartbeat both policemen imagined guns gleaming at them, but a second later they saw that the motorcyclists had drawn nothing more than —

“Drumsticks?” jeered Anderson. “Right pair of jokers, aren’t you? Right, we’re arresting you on a charge of —” (Prequel)

and

Harry preferred Little Whinging by night, when the curtained windows made patches of jewel-bright colors in the darkness and he ran no danger of hearing disapproving mutters about his “delinquent” appearance when he passed the householders. (OOTP1)

This one’s a bit more depressing, but it’s something that I think holds true for many people of colour in places where they aren’t the majority. Whether in a local neighbourhood, with a police officer, or at an airport, it’s easy enough to think of an instance of racial profiling. Being treated as a threat by people who don’t really know you. In James and Sirius’s interaction with the police, up until that point they’re smarmy, sure, but have made no indication that they’re any kind of threat. They reach back in their pockets and immediately the assumption is that they have guns. Harry experiences similar profiling. In that same chapter, he talks about how some of the neighbourhood kids are afraid of him. Admittedly, he’s got the Dursleys’ badmouthing and the state of his clothing going against him, but James is well-dressed and cared-for and still treated as if he might become violent.

Nuanced Representation Through James

This point is less about the text itself, and more about how interpreting James as a person of colour is beneficial to readers of colour. Although he sort of gets the least physical presence in the series, the things we do see inform us that he’s got quite the story. He’s described, along with Sirius, as “the cleverest [student] in school,” in POA, he becomes an animagus at the age of fifteen, and he saves the life of his worst enemy (who later sells him out to Voldemort). He dedicates his life to a war that his blood status exempts him from. And he’s got obvious flaws as well! He’s arrogant, sometimes rude, and loyal to the point of being blind to the possibility of betrayal. Of all of the Marauders’ era characters, James has some of the most interesting characterization. In a series where people of colour barely feature, the idea that someone like James (and subsequently Harry) could be men of colour is very exciting.

And, for what it’s worth, I actually think it’s kind of cool that James is so well-off financially. It’s not only a reversal of expectations with the earlier point of racially-coded insults, but also offers a version of an ethnic minority who doesn’t necessarily have a class disadvantage. And, if you’re on the Desi James train, it actually plays into a specific narrative of migration and employment for Indians in the UK prior to 1981. Racial discrimination and class do not always follow each other, and I think that disconnect can be jarring for those who consider themselves relatively privileged. Again, it’s something I think is interesting to explore.

Diverse Magical Heritage

Again, this idea comes down to personal preference. Since James comes from a long line of mostly pure-bloods, that means that if he is interpreted as a person of colour, there’s an entire magical tradition that can come with that. All of the HP spells are Latin-based, but if you read James as Desi (as I do) then there’s the potential for Sanskrit-based spells! Indian wizard holidays! If Christian wizards celebrate Christmas, surely Hindu wizards celebrate Diwali? Or Muslim wizards celebrate Eid? Not to mention the cool idea of life-cycle rites coming into play. I’d love to see a wizard version of annaprashan, where instead of reaching for just books or toys, you could have Harry reaching for a wand for power, or the Mahabharata for courage. Not to mention that James’ family has a long history in potions, which actually seems closer to Ayurvedic medicine than chemistry. There are so many possibilities that come from seeing James as a person of colour. These are only a few examples.

#ayesha says things #james potter #preemptively included links for your perusal #normally i'd use a read more but THEY'RE BROKEN #long post #racism #also this isn't me trying 2 convince u it's just a long ramble about my feelings #popular #potters of colour

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miageeniwunschkail37-blog · 5 years ago

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Unusual Article Uncovers the Deceptive Practices of Pakistani Women Cloths

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#pakistani clothes

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kaceryuk · 3 years ago

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https://kacery.com/

Buy Sherwani, Kurta Pajama, Lehnga, Suite & Blazer Online in United Kingdom LutonBuy Online Asian Ethnic Wear, Bridalwear, Menswear, kidswear for Mens Online UK. Kacery is Pleased To Offer a Bespoke Made To Measure Service. Kacery offers Custom Made Designer Asian Wedding Collection. we are based in the United Kingdom LUTON. Groom sherwani bride outfit, waistcoat, tuxedo, blazer, jackets, kurta pajama scarves for mehndi eid Durga pooja. All Bespoke Blazer, Sherwanis Tuxedo, Mens’ wedding suits, smoking jackets, vests, waistcoats, loafers just, shawl dupatta, ladies coat jacket bride’s mother dress are totally designed, tailored, & made as per individual needs offering you complete freedom of designing your own outfits.

#uk kacery online shoping

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classyfoxdestiny · 3 years ago

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Collapse in HGV apprentices behind empty shelf crisis, warns Labour

A collapse in the numbers of people signing up for transport and warehousing apprenticeships has driven the current delivery crisis causing empty shelves in supermarkets and shortages at fast-food chains, Labour has claimed.

The party released figures showing that entrants on transportation apprenticeships have fallen by almost half (49 per cent) since 2015/16 and by a massive 83 per cent for warehousing and distribution.

Future transport spokeswoman Kerry McCarthy blamed the government for failing to ensure the supply of new drivers in an industry facing the “ticking time-bomb” of a rapidly ageing workforce, with the average person behind the wheel of an HGV now 55 years old and fewer than 1 per cent aged under 25.

With drivers reaching retirement at a rate of 6,000 a year and others leaving the profession because of , the current crisis can be expected to worsen unless urgent action is taken to attract more young people onto apprenticeships, she said.

Recent weeks have seen major chains including Nando’s, McDonald’s and Greggs blame distribution problems for shortages preventing them from serving popular items to customers, while the boss of Iceland supermarkets has warned that the supply chain crisis could “cancel” Christmas.

The Road Haulage Association says the UK is around 100,000 drivers short, with Brexit and Covid blamed for worsening chronic labour shortages in the industry.

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13 July 2021

Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford

In July, ministers announced a short-term relaxation to limits on drivers’ working hours and said measures were being taken to increase the throughput of HGV driving tests in response to the crisis, after the pandemic led to a 30,000 fall in the number of drivers getting their heavy goods licences last year.

But the government has resisted industry calls for a relaxation of immigration rules to try to attract back some of the thousands of drivers from EU countries who have left the UK since Brexit.

And Labour today accused the government of failing to ensure adequate supplies of home-grown drivers, pointing to figures showing that numbers of trainees in key apprenticeships were falling long before the impact of the virus and EU withdrawal was felt.

Numbers on transportation operation and maintenance courses fell from 16,620 in 2015/16 to 8,430 in 2020/21, while starts on warehousing and distribution roles declined from 14,860 to 2,500 over the same period.

“The shortage of drivers is now visible on a daily basis through empty shelves in shops and closures on our high streets,” said Ms McCarthy.

“But these stats show things are likely to get even worse, as the government has failed to encourage young people into the industry to replace retiring drivers. This is completely unsustainable.

“It is increasingly clear that the government does not have a plan to address a national crisis that is grinding our economy to a halt.”

With only 3,000 vocational driving tests being taken a week, she warned it will be months before the huge shortage in drivers is filled. And she said it was dangerous to rely on longer hours for drivers to keep the supply chain moving.

Labour has called on the government to work with the Migration Advisory Committee to determine whether HGV driving should be designated a skills-shortage profession under the immigration points system, to allow the recruitment of more foreign drivers.

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growingchrist · 3 years ago

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Let’s Begin The New Era of Islamic Clothing

Beautiful skirts and long top with the small tights; bright colored boots and fantastic head coverings with pinned styled tresses. Whoa! Whoa! We are sure you have imagined yourself to be with the flowy skirts in the fantasy modeling shoots of high street stores. All these are not just flicking when it comes to Islamic clothing. Thanks to the trendsetters who gave the rise of Modest wear in Islamic Fashion Clothing.

Modest wear is now the biggest growing wardrobe collection in the Fashion industry. It has secured large-scale of attention in worldwide market, while it has its own challenges. Fashion bloggers and revolutionist has invested enormous effort in bringing the balance between Faith and fashion. It has a change that "covering up" is the new fashionista of the era. If you could remember when Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett and Game of Thrones fame Emila Clarke are appearing on screen with long sleeves fringed high-neck dress even at their red-carpet parties.

Shop Modest Dress and adore the princess in you. The major brands having delivered unique streaming outfits and wide-leg pants to match with the festivals of Eid and Ramadan. It's not simply top of the trendy collection. All these brands are trying to give the best outfit in their sale house and two of them namely "Floral Abayas" and "Designer’s hijabs" were launched and that was biggest hit of the 2017 festive season.

The key highlight of the dress is that it never cross over the fine line of fashion with the religious motives. Many ladies do not want to expose their legs, full arms, shoulders and so on - Especially in front of men who they were not familiar with. The clothing preferably seems to be not so tight and transparent. Even in some orthodox families’ women still cover their hair by using Hijab and it has become usual.

A decade ago, it was extremely hard to find this fashionable clothing style which also modest and trendy. You should shop modern Islamic Fashion clothing from Modest Dresses, who is currently setting trend with Abayas. It is among the first UK retail chain to offer Muslim wardrobe designer. One of their best efforts was to design the swimming suit and it just sold online in a month.

Modest Islamic fashion wear from Modest Boutique is the future of fashion for Muslim population and non-Muslims as well.

The things that were available were either not "cool" or it was "boring" for this new generation culture. That is how this Modest wear evolved primarily from cottage industry only. They made customized Abayas with the traditional designs and hence the industry owes to them. Today there are numerous choices available not just with Abayas but also work-wear, shirts, kimonos etc. Shop modest Islamic fashion clothing at your own preferences since it is completely online.

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secretradiobrooklyn · 3 years ago

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The Singing Senator Edition | 5.22.21

Secret Radio | 5.22.21 | Hear it here.

1. Dara Puspita - “Bertamasja”

Dara Puspita was an Indonesian band, active right from the start of rock n roll — like, they jumped into it in 1964. I love how it sounds like gnarly garage rock until the lead guitar tone pulls out and reveals a super VU sound. With a surf structure! It’s just about a perfect nugget of song.

2. Yol Aularong - “Sou Slarp Kroam Kombut Srey (Rather Die Under a Woman’s Sword)”

Yol Aularong has the wildest voice, and total commitment to rock’s magic transformative power, even in a context where he was risking his life. He does things that would make Screamin’ Jay lean back and appreciate. The arrangements and his delivery just o’erbrim with life and character.

3. The Psychedelic Aliens - “We’re Laughing”

This band is like Atomic Forest in that they’re just the answer to any collector’s wildest dreams of rarity: they’re a Ghanaian band who released exactly 8 songs and were big in the Accra scene. The groove of this song, especially in headphones, is just mesmerizing, and his delivery gets gradually more and more abstract. It sounds like Marijata and what I wish WITCH sounded more like. Undeniable.

- Glenn Miller Orchestra - “Sunrise Serenade”

4. Prewar Yardsale - “Turn On (Live Peel Session)”

We got into Prewar Yardsale through Jeffrey. Because we got into this band that he introduced us to, he said he had some rarities and other tracks. That he sent our way, and this is from that.

5. Chai - “In Pink (feat. MNDSGN)”

I think first it was the New York Times, then the Guardian, then the New Yorker all writing about this band essentially in the same week — and we definitely had no idea what they sound like. This song had just debuted on YouTube 18 hours earlier. I think, especially now through repeated listens, it’s a rad track. I love the way MNDSGN winds his vocals into the song, then has his passage, then smoothly winds his way out again. It’s like meeting a really interesting person at an already cool party.

6. Waipod Phetsuphan - “Ding Ding Dong”

Siamese music — Thai music. The guitar part is so primal and the drums so bright in the fills and meanwhile it sounds like he’s casting a spell. And what a refrain.

7. Jacques Dutronc - “J’ai me un tigre dans ma guitare”

One of the greats — I have loved every song of his I’ve ever heard. This song really makes me appreciate his band, especially his drummer.

8. Orchestra Baobab - “Kelen Ati Leen”

When we started WBFFing, it was partly because we were being blown away by the indisputable proof of James Brown’s influence on, and interaction with, the entire world. I don’t think I realized JB was a lot bigger than the Beatles in huge swaths of the world. This track is fundamentally expressing a JB groove and doing their own entire thing at the same time. The lead vocals’ flavor is just off the charts and the band is SO tight.

9. Pierre Vassilou - “Qui c’est celui-là?”

What IS this song? It’s in French but it sounds like Brazil — I guess really it sounds like Os Mutantes.

10. Betti-Betti w T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo - “Mahana”

The abundance of T.P. Orchestre keeps on giving. This beautiful, beautiful song is from an album they did with Cameroonian star Betti-Betti, who basically expressed the pain of her country so precisely that the whole nation mourned her passing when she died young. This melody is just stunning, and the harmony

- Stunt Double - “Be My Baby”

Ace track from some of our favorite people in all of LA.

11. Bug Chaser - “Crowley’s Kids”

I don’t know if Bug Chaser is active at the moment, but some of our favorite STL shows have been watching and/or playing with Bug Chaser. We did the City Museum rooftop twice — and we split favorite VU songs at the Lou Reed Farewell show. Two drumsets, way too much information per track, and an epic live show with a lead character who knows how to lose himself in a song.

12. Eko Roosevelt - “Attends Moi”

We learned about Eko Roosevelt by glimpsing him in a movie about Betti-Betti. He’s a handsome bearded gentleman behind a piano. The first songs by him that got us were super heavy disco, but this one has its own special power. Lately Paige has been singing and playing it on guitar — I’m kind of hoping that we hear her version of “Attends Moi” in another broadcast.

13. Manzanita y Su Conjunto - “Shambar”

One of the sweetest musical gifts in our life has been the discovery of Analog Africa’s ever-growing musical jackpot. They sent their list a note recently about an upcoming record focused on Manzanita y Su Conjunto and their path through cumbia music, and there are two tracks available now counting this one. We’ll be getting this record, this shit is amazing.

Paige: “I gotta get in touch with Mrs. Link.”

14. Lizzy Mercier Descloux - “Fire”

This song is from her 1979 debut, “Press Color,” and man, what an undeniable new character on the scene! She was based in Paris, hooked up with Michel Esteban, and together they not only established a store of crucial Parisian punkness but also published a fucking MAGAZINE called “Rock News”!! While making music like this! Eventually they moved to New York in 1977 (natch) and as far as I know just continued to be the coolest humans on Earth. I can’t wait to share some of her other tracks with you — besides the brilliant first album, there’s a whole record called “Zulu Rock”!

15. Os Mutantes - “A Minha Menina”

And as always I think: What did the Beatles think of this music?! They must have known about it, they must have. To me it really brings a whole additional level that the Beatles wanted to get to but literally didn’t know how — and Os Mutantes did.

16. Suburban Lawns - “Janitor”

Sometimes I wonder why something that sounds so objectionable can be the most vital music in the world. Like, nothing about the lyrics or the way this song is sung should be appealing — and instead, this song is brilliantly undeniable. It’s even better when you see them performing it. If you don’t know what they look like, I guarantee you she will be a surprising character.

My favorite words on it ever are something someone wrote as a comment under the video of their TV performance of this song: “Spent 15 years as a janitor. Can confirm every word.”

17. Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Serey Sothea - “Mou Pei Na”

These two are just amazing characters in the pre-Khmer Rouge Cambodian music world. Ros Serey Sothea’s voice is totally unique, and Sisamouth has a sincere urgency that gives the whole song a surprising narrative shape.

18. Ranil - “Ángel Terrenal”

Analog Africa again — the cure for what ails you. They are truly combing the world for music that amazes. They played the length of the Amazon river and did their best to stay out of big cities after a bad experience with a record label. So they released these psychedelic jungle masterpieces on little slabs of vinyl that they sold up and down the river. Can you freaking believe that?

- Salah Ragab - I believe you are responsible for telling us about Salah Ragab, Josh Weinstein. So good.

Also, as promised, further information about glue traps and why they’re so harsh (and how to pull off a successful rescue!) can be found here.

19. Dagi D - “Beka”

I feel like I knew my musical life had changed when I started thinking of every visit to an Ethiopian restaurant as a valuable moment to learn as much about the music as possible — especially Meskerem in St. Louis, it must be said. It turns out modern Ethiopian pop music is super addictive and can easily get stuck in your head for days.

20. Raxstar - “Jaaneman”

We’re still pretty new to Kensington, our neighborhood in Brooklyn. We knew that a Muslim holiday called Eid al-Fitr was happening, and when it was happening, but we were still surprised by what a joyous holiday it was in our neighborhood. Everyone of all ages was out in their fines, which involved a whole lot of sequins and shining metallic threads. The men wore a lot of caftans and those excellent long shirts and/or jackets, most with beautiful patterns. We went for a long walk and just enjoyed seeing a holiday at full pitch — excited kids and tutting grandmas, people carrying big flower arrangements (in the shape of a crescent and star!), heavy-looking tins of food headed toward a feast, even fireworks overhead. We crossed paths with a group of dudes all dressed up in various states of celebration, from a sharp Western-style two-piece suit to an even sharper South Asian suit with a Nehru collar and snug caftan. It looked like they had just finished the parental part of the night and were deciding where and who to meet up with — exactly like, say, Thanksgiving night in your hometown. It felt like, from Coney Island to McDonald, Church to Cortelyou, it was New Year’s Eve for everyone but us.

After our walk we returned to our apartment and set up a little folding table out back to enjoy a glass of wine in the warm air. Our neighbors across the fence were still in the midst of family time, with tons of kids running around, including a teensy little girl on a tiny little pink scooter and a gaggle of beautifully awkward teens in the posture and attitude that says “stand by your cousins and let me take your picture.” As the evening wore on and the parents drifted back inside, the young adult contingent got a speaker going, and soon we were catching tracks we’d never heard before. The one that made us first pay attention was “Jaaneman,” with the vocalist’s super-charismatic delivery and priceless accent. We found ourselves Shazaming song after song, and thus started learning about Desi hip hop, a whole world of East Asian immigrant tracks that offer a lens into life in the US and UK that I haven’t really seen since watching “My Beautiful Laundrette” many years ago. Fascinating!

“Jaaneman” literally means “soul of me,” but translates to “my love” or “my darling.” Check out Raxstar — I’d love to see him play SNL and get an impression of what he’s like live. Just last month he released “Forever Jaaneman,” which updates his original smash hit and is also a very strong track.

21. Nate Smith - “Spress Theyself”

One of the last shows we got to see in St. Louis was Nate Smith at Jazz at the Bistro, and holy smokes, what a pleasure to see him do his thing up close. I love this solo album because it sounds like a practice sesh that died and went to heaven. It doesn’t have a song’s logic, but it does follow the feel of a great intuitive exploration of a beat, wandering through subdivisions and feel variations with complete ease.

22. Jefferson Airplane - “White Rabbit”

This is Paige’s call. I think it’s cool because I can hear the direct connection between this and Erkin Koray’s Anatolian psych rock style, which I previously had no idea about. This listen through, we’ve both been appreciating how overwhelming massive Grace Slick’s voice is.

23. Marie France - “Dereglée”

Another cut off the fantastic Born Bad Records comp “Paink,” and more proof that punk was happening in other languages at the same time. (Though I think they called themselves “méchant”… or denied being méchant, depending) The album art reveals that Marie France happened to look uncannily like a punk Marilyn Monroe, which only makes both MM and MF cooler.

24. Operation Ivy - “One of These Days”

I was never for one second a punk in high school, but I knew that the Op Ivy t-shirt was the essence of functional punk.

- Shin Joong Hyun - “Moon Watching”

25. Shin Joong Hyun - “Spring Rain”

This guy has an otherworldly sense of melody and performance that indie rock only starting catching up with decades later. This is the guy sometimes referred to as the “Korean godfather of rock.” He was active from the early ‘60s til 1975, when he was arrested, tortured and banned in South Korea. Eventually, the leader who had hammered down on him died, and he was able to begin piecing his life back together. These iconic, evocative, cinematic recordings would sound great in any decade.

Spoiler: it wasn’t! We walked across the bridge and it was a thoroughly magical New York evening.

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althawb · 4 years ago

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What is a Thawb?

A Thawb, Thobe or Jubbah, also termed as a dishdasha or kandura is an ankle length arab garment, usually with long sleeves similar to that of a robe or a kaftan. A sirwal or trousers is typically worn underneath.

COLOUR

The truth is, there is no significance to the different colours you see in a Thawb, except for personal style and choice. White, by far, is the favourite colour. Arab men tend to wear white or lighter silky feel colours in the summer months, as it is the coolest to wear in the hot desert heat. The winter months sees a rise in the darker colours such as black or brown, usually made in thicker materials such as cotton or viscose.

STYLE

As every country has its own tradition, similarly it is the tradition of the arabs to wear a thawb. The style varies throughout the different regions of the arab world with each having their unique definition of it. The main indicator is seen when paying close attention to the neck and the sleeves. Here are a few examples:

Man in Morocco wearing the djellabah. The sleeves tend to be wide and comfortable with the neck being open allowing breathable space. Qob is a baggy hood at the back of the djellabah that comes to a point. It is used as a protection against rains and sands of the desert, while being used as a pocket where bread can be put during the warm weather.

In UAE, the kandura has no collar and is indicated by the long loose tassel hanging from the neck. Matching embroidery is seen along the neck and the sleeves.

The omani kandura resembles to that of the emirati, except that it has a shorter tassel to the side of the neckline.

The Dishdasha in Saudi Arabia are typically a tighter fit than the neighbouring gulf countries. The Saudi thawb appear like a shirt featuring a two-button collar and shirtsleeves made for cufflinks.

A thawb is sometimes worn with a bisht, meaning outer cloak. A bisht is usually worn for prestige on special occasions such as weddings/eid or for the friday jumuah prayers . It may also be worn by men of status, royalty, wealth or sometimes a religious position.

We often refer to women when it comes to the subject of dressing modestly in Islam. However, what many don’t know is that rules apply to both men and women. For that reason, men in the gulf countries wear the traditional Islamic clothing that is modest and unrevealing.

It is common for arab men to wear their Thawb with pride. You will barely ever see a guy walking around with a stain on his thawb or creases on his jubbah. This is how well they maintain their pristine glory.

Today, we see a growth in the Thawb industry. The Thawb has never gone out of fashion. It is a timeless piece with its elegance being preserved through history. Men’s Jubba have travelled to the UK too. They are advertised as men’s clothing for the modern day muslim male. Everyone loves the stylish look about the thawb.

We see traditional attire being reinvented with a contemporary edge for the modern generation. Everyone loves to see an updated Thawb. The chance to feel traditional and stylish at the same time was once storybook. Now, we can live it.

Blog first published on Al Thawb.

#menswear #fashion thawb thobe jubbah mensfashion

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lovebyzahid-blog · 4 years ago

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Kurta Pajama: Buy Indian & Pakistani Men's Kurta Pyjama

Buy kurta pajama online, shopping for eid men's kurtas pyjama with fine fabric-like, cotton kurta pajama etc with white, black, blue color by LoveByZahid.com Men's kurta pyjama online shopping in UK. Shop the Best Designer Men Dresses online & Men's kurta pajama, Indian & Pakistani Traditional Men Ethnic Wear Dresses UK. -33% New Add to basket Add to Wishlist Quick viewAdd to compare 0(0 reviews) Men’s Kurta – MKP102 $20.10 $13.40 -33% New Add to basket Add to Wishlist Quick viewAdd to compare 0(0 reviews) Men’s Kurta – MKP101 $20.10 $13.40 -33% Add to basket Add to Wishlist Quick viewAdd to compare 0(0 reviews) Men’s Kurta – Black $20.10 $13.40 Indo western for men UK Buy Kurta Pajama online in the UK. Best Designer Kurta with waistcoat for men in Uk with fast delivery. Online Men’s Indian clothing from LovebyZahide. Men’s Asian clothes available online in UK. LoveByZahid.com have Party Wear Kurta Pajama, Festival Wear Kurta Pajama. Casual Wear Kurta Pajama. Readymade Kurta Pajama. Best Seller Kurta Pajama in UK The manufacturing of kurta pajama/ kurta Shalwar fabric for men covers the summer/ Winter & Tropical Seasons. The following fabrics can utilize for the white kurta design for men. Read the full article

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megamikethomson · 5 years ago

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Why is stephen’s day called boxing day? 12 xmas questions spoke back

what is christmas? The short solution is that it’s a christian festival that celebrates the delivery of jesus. According to the nativity tale, mary and joseph travelled from their home in nazareth (in what's now israel) to bethlehem (in what is now the west bank) to participate in a census. Months in advance, mary had been visited by the angel gabriel and advised she would provide start to a boy who she could call jesus, and who would be the son of god. The kid turned into added in a strong. Shepherds and clever guys introduced birthday items. The bible does now not specify the date of jesus’s birth. A few humans have cautioned it became in the spring because of the custom of sending sheep into the fields at that time of year. “and within the identical place there had been some shepherds staying out inside the fields, and preserving watch over their flock with the aid of night time.” (luke 2:eight)

so how did it come to fall on december 25th? Inside the fourth century, pope julius i chose december 25th as the date of the banquet of the nativity. It took a while to seize on. Christmas didn’t reach northern europe till the give up of the eighth century, and xmas day didn’t end up a federal excursion within the us until 1870. December 25th is the day that the roman catholic and protestant churches rejoice christmas, but many orthodox christians use the julian calendar, which runs 13 days in the back of the usual global gregorian calendar, for religious fairs. Christmas is widely known by using orthodox christians on january 7th in russia, ukraine, serbia, belarus, egypt, ethiopia, georgia, kazakhstan, macedonia, moldova and montenegro. The three clever guys are stated to have delivered the toddler jesus gifts on the 12th day of christmas. Picture: istock the 3 clever men are said to have introduced the infant jesus items at the twelfth day of christmas. Image: istock so there has been no excursion season earlier than the birth of jesus?

Now not as a pageant to rejoice the nativity, glaringly. But the cause why pope julius i picked december 25th was to appropriate pagan midwinter gala's and remodel them right into a christian event. In scandinavia, the norse celebrated jul (yule) from the winter solstice (december 21st) for as long because it took for large logs to burn out, usually about 12 days. There has been plenty of meat as animals have been slaughtered in order that they wouldn’t need feeding over the iciness, and domestic-brewed wine and beer became equipped for consuming at xmas. In rome, saturnalia – honouring saturn, the god of agriculture – commenced just before the iciness solstice and persisted for seven days. Guys dressed as girls, masters dressed as servants, and there has been much feasting and rowdy behaviour. Inside the british isles, druids reduce and blessed mistletoe to mark the wintry weather solstice. And it’s been “always christmastime” ever on the grounds that? Not quite. Whilst oliver cromwell and his puritan forces took over england, christmas changed into banned. Noting that the date of jesus’s delivery isn't within the bible, the puritans decided it become all a just a pseudo-christian gloss for the earlier pagan festivals. In 1644, christmas became outlawed – no decorations, no mince pies and certainly no decadence. An ordinance for abolishing of gala's turned into passed via parliament in june 1647 banning christmas, easter and whitsun. In the us, wherein the puritans have been even greater, well, puritan, each person showing a piece of christmas spirit in boston faced a hefty nice of 5 shillings. A few noted christmas as “foolstide”. Prince albert added the first christmas tree from germany to victoria and the royal family within the 1840s prince albert brought the primary christmas tree from germany to victoria and the royal family inside the 1840s

together with the monarchy in britain, the festival turned into soon restored, and it became the victorians who virtually shaped christmas as we know it today. They instituted carol singing, adorning bushes and the change of cards. The first christmas tree became delivered from germany through prince albert to the british royal family in the 1840s. In recent times, about seven million real timber are sold inside the uk every 12 months, and as many as 30 million in the us. Spending on christmas items reached a peak in 2014, at a median of €670 consistent with household within the united kingdom. Ordinary monthly family spending inside the united kingdom on meals increases by means of 20 according to cent in december, and alcohol purchases growth via 30 in keeping with cent. So it’s extra of a capitalist extravaganza than a christian pageant now? Perhaps, however christmas is also a increase time for churches, with many human beings attending mass over the vacation even though they don’t don't forget themselves to be believers. Even a few hardened atheists find candle-lit nighttime mass on christmas eve or a youngsters’s nativity provider difficult to face up to. What about non-christians – those of other faiths, or of no faith?

Certainly, there are a number of them. In place of being resentful of a christian competition, muslims frequently commit to extra charity paintings over the christmas period, and a few mosques hold special lectures approximately jesus, who's taken into consideration in islam to be a prophet. The pageant of eid al-fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of ramadan, is every so often known as (with the aid of non-muslims) the muslim equal of christmas in as a ways as it's far a time spent with family and while gifts are exchanged. The subsequent time eid al-fitr and xmas coincide is 2033. The word “satisfied holidays” has emerge as common in lots of elements as a capture-interested by christmas, hanukkah (the jewish competition which falls close to christmas), and the non-religious. Where inside the call of jesus did mince pies come from? These days, they're spherical and candy, but they was once rectangular and savoury. Mince pies date again to the 13th century, after they have been known as mutton, minched, shrid or christmas pies, and contained principally meat together with suet, fruit and spices. The victorians made them sweeter, although suet remained part of the “mincemeat” recipe until meals businesses tuned into the needs of vegetarians and vegans. Few people make their very own from

scratch nowadays, and why would you whilst you could pick out from chocolate and cherry mince pies, gin mince pies, salted caramel mince pies, chocolate orange mince pies …? Mince pies: once packed with mutton, they’re now commonly vegetarian, except the occasional inclusion of suet mince pies: as soon as filled with mutton, they’re now generally vegetarian, except the occasional inclusion of suet what approximately turkeys? Nicely, goose, pheasant, swan and peacocks were the roast birds of choice for the christmas dinner desk for hundreds of years. King henry viii turned into recognized to eat turkey at christmas soon after the chicken changed into brought to england in 1526, but it didn’t turn out to be large until the fifties.

Peacocks have been once the meat of desire for the royal christmas dinner desk. Photo: istock peacocks have been as soon as the beef of preference for the royal christmas dinner table. Picture: istock who's santa claus? Aka santy, father christmas and st nicholas. Nicholas turned into a fourth-century bishop, a wealthy man who secretly gave items to the bad. One beneficiary changed into a man with 3 daughters who could not have enough money dowries to marry them off. Nicholas dropped a bag of gold down the man’s chimney which fell into a stocking that were hung up to dry. The bishop turned into persecuted, exiled and imprisoned for his faith. After his demise on december sixth, the date have become an occasion on which youngsters have been given small items in his memory and, in a few international locations, kids nevertheless open gives on st nicholas’s eve, december 5th. Later, st nicholas became usurped in famous subculture by father christmas, santy or santa claus. In keeping with legend, he travels thru the sky on a sledge pulled via 8 reindeer decorated with jingle bells to slide down chimneys and deposit affords via the fire. St nicholas: a 4th-century bishop who secretly gave items to the bad. boxing day

boxing day

Photoraph: istock st nicholas: a 4th-century bishop who secretly gave gifts to the poor. Photoraph: istock why is st stephen’s day called boxing day? The call, generally used in the uk for december twenty sixth, refers to a christmas box traditionally given to servants and tradespeople, containing money, a gift and now and again leftover meals. But christmas doesn’t cease there. In concept, the christmas pageant lasts 12 days, until january sixth, the day whilst the three sensible guys turned up in bethlehem with items of gold, frankincense and myrrh for infant jesus. Traditionally, the celebrations maintain and the decorations remain in location until twelfth night, also known as epiphany. The track the 12 days of christmas, which started out existence as an 18th-century rhyme before being set to song by way of frederic austin in 1909, logs all of the items given to the singer through his or her true love, starting from a partridge in a pear tree to 12 drummers drumming. One uk financial offerings organization estimates the cost of the items this year at more than €33,000. How do you pay for a maid-a-milking? It’s now not clean.

You may’t call them maids any greater, and maximum milking is performed by system. What next? Easter! That is the christian festival marking the crucifixion and resurrection of jesus. The gap between christmas and easter varies among 3 and four months, and in 2019 it’s at the outer edge of that variety with easter falling on the 0. 33 weekend of april. Or, for the resolutely non-christian, there’s the spring equinox on march twenty first. Until then, merry christmas. Studying listthe bible – the nativity story is advised inside the books of matthew and lukea christmas carol – charles dickensthe snowman – raymond briggsthe night time earlier than christmas – clement c moorechristmas: a biography – judith flanderspigín yule – kathleen watkinschristmas on a finances - what to do if yo

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