Holidays according to the stories of the residents
Religious holidays
Religious holidays for Muslims are Ramadan Bairam, Eid al-Adha, the Nativity of Muhammad and Friday.
The Ascension of Muhammad - a legend.
Muhammad ascended to heaven during his lifetime (alive). Until then, all believers - both Christians and Muslims - turned to Jerusalem when they prayed to God. There are many different temples there.
Legend has it that the angel (miller) Jibril (Gabriel) was ordered to go and get Muhammad to show him heaven and hell. He had to go to the mosque in Jerusalem.
Muhammad prayed there. Then angel Jibril (Archangel Gabriel) arrives on his at (horse). Jibril had Muhammad change into clothes that would protect him on the journey and mount the horse to set off. However, the horse was very tall and Muhammad could not get on. Then he stepped on a rock and succeeded.
Jibril and Muhammad set off together on horseback, but the rock broke away with them. Then Jibril ordered the rock to stop. The rock separated from Muhammad's feet but did not fall to the ground. Left in the air.
People who used to go on pilgrimage - Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and all, stopped going. They were afraid that the rock would fall on them. To prevent the rock from falling, they built columns that would hold the rock if it fell. The rock itself I have heard is still in the air.
Friday is also a holiday. It is a week-long holiday or Small Bayram (Arfeta). It is expressed in a prayer called Jumayah, which requires at least three people. The word Jumaya means gathering day and mosque means gathering place. Women cannot perform Jumaya. They perform a rite at home, where they prepare for the holiday. Friday is the most excellent day of the week and is the weekly holiday for Muslims.
Ramadan Bayram Before the holiday, one fasts for a month, during which one does not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset (Ramadan - translated as hot, because it is the hottest month of the year - it is also the ninth month of the Islamic calendar). A prayer of thanksgiving is offered in the morning and in the evening. The holiday lasts for three days and occurs in honor of the end of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. On the first day of the holiday, men attend a service in the mosque, the younger ones kiss the hands of the older ones, then go home to the festive table. By necessity, the little ones ask for forgiveness from the big ones. The greeting is: "Eid Mubarak!", translated as: "Happy holiday!" or "Happy Bayram".
Kapama, banitza, mekiki, halva, baklava, sweets, coffee, cookies with nuts and powdered sugar are served, hence the other name of the holiday - Sheker Bayram. Visit relatives, the rule being that the younger ones visit the older ones.
First one goes to the woman's parents, and later the celebration continues with a visit to the man's parents. The children go round the houses and receive soft drinks and candies. There is also the typical Christian charity at Christmas, but for Muslims it is obligatory, determined by their income, and seen as a tax rather than an act of generosity.
The holiday has been celebrated since 624 and is always full of joy and noise. Kurban Bayram - the difference between the two holidays is 70 days. Do not starve before this holiday. The celebration of Eid al-Adha commemorates a plot underlying the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, namely Abraham's sacrifice. In the Islamic tradition, this is the Ibrahim sacrifice, named after the prophet Ibrahim, who had to sacrifice his dearest to God - his son Ismail, but Allah replaced the boy with a ram at the last moment. This mythological account of man's faith and God's mercy is commemorated annually by Muslims around the world with a sacrifice, with celebrations lasting from 3 to 7 days. Prayers are said before and after the sacrifice.
One-third of the sacrificial animal is left at home for the family, one-third is given to relatives, and the remaining one-third to neighbors and poorer people. At home, a rich meal is prepared with pies, pilaf, Kurban soup, baklava, to which relatives are invited. Young family members take forgiveness from the elders.
According to tradition, the meat must be eaten the same day. The Kurban Bayram holiday is also accompanied by folk music and dances in the village square. In the past, masquerade games were performed on the holiday. Swings are tied for the young and the children.
Nativity of Muhammad Nativity of Muhammad is the third most important holiday. It began to be celebrated 300 years after the establishment of Islam, with the Prophet's birthday being considered to be the 12th day of the third month according to the Islamic lunar calendar, each year being different. On the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, the story of his life (hadith) is read, which is described in verse by Suleiman Celebi. It is customary to invite guests, feast and distribute food to the poor.
(Note: The first mention of the holiday dates back to the 12th century. It is believed that this holiday arose under the influence of the Christian holiday "Nativity". That is why it was not accepted by religious authorities for a long time. Only later did this date begin to be celebrated as an "approved innovation". )
Another holiday is Blagovets - it was called that because good news would come. It was celebrated on April 7 (in the old style - now it is celebrated on March 25). When the date approached, the mother would cook kachamak, the father would buy halva so that everyone could eat something sweet in honor of the holiday. There were also rituals. The children of the village gathered and carried bells, shovels, which they put on the sheep, tuna and we rang the bells all over the village. We entered the houses and went around the corners. We rang the bells or hit the doorbell and chased away the evil spirits. The butcher of the house will give us something - dry fruits (pods) or something else. Then the children continued to Livade. There were willows there.
There we rattled the willows and hazel trees with the woodpeckers to drive away the dangerous animals – snakes, smoks and others, so that they wouldn't meet us in the summer. By this time the willow has developed. The livelier children would climb the willow tree and cut off a stick. Then they peeled off the skin. She, the willow then had already developed and had brains. Then they rolled up the bark to make it like a whistle (funnel) and finally fastened it with a thistle of thistle to prevent it from unraveling. This whistle was called a storm. In order to be able to play, however, something else was needed. Another small stick was taken, cleaned of the bark and inserted into the narrower part. It was lightly pressed with the mouth to become a mouthpiece and played. When we were going this way, all the kids who had played up a storm were playing on the road.
On Blagovets, the girls to be married and their mothers take out the prikya (cheiza) on the "lid", on the potum they line up so that passers-by can see it and know that the girl is not poor and has a prikya.
Obligation to distribute benefits (outside of holidays). The obligation to keep a secret When helping the needy - gifts - food, clothes and others, should not be given out ostentatiously. Then the good deed is no longer good, but a sin to the giver. Keeping a secret is absolutely necessary so as not to harm the dignity of the person. The amount of the aid is determined depending on the capabilities of the donor.
Obligation to visit Mecca If you are rich you must go to Mecca at least once. This is done on Kurban Bayram. In the beginning, the qibla (the direction in which Muslims face) was towards Jerusalem, towards the Temple Mount – the third holiest place for Islam. Now it is already towards Mecca, towards the Holy Mosque. It is the largest, oldest and most revered mosque, in the courtyard of which is the ancient Kaaba, in the eastern corner of which is embedded the "Black Stone" (the hanging stone), which is supposed to be a remnant of a meteorite . The mosque is also known as Haram or Haram Sharif.
Wedding traditions
Egagement (glavene)
First, the boy who fell in love with the girl will ask him if her parents will accept the messengers - suitors who will ask them for her.
If the answer is yes, the messengers go to the girl's home to ask for it. Once parental consent is obtained, an engagement is scheduled.
For the engagement, the male party purchases a ring and jewelry. Also the father of the young man buys the food and everything necessary for the engagement.
The girl's parents await and greet with "Welcome" the betrothed. Relatives and friends are present at the event.
The gifts are shown to everyone, then a celebration is held
A wedding
After the engagement, the wedding is scheduled. It can take a long time from engagement to wedding. During this time, the necessary preparations are made.
The girl has a cheiz - "prikyo". On the day of the wedding, relatives prepare her for the wedding at the bride's home. They decorate it by painting it with henna. The girls who help her sing and dance.
After the preparation is over, the girl's veil is put on - red in color.
During this time, messengers - horsemen accompanied by music - come from the male side to take the bride. The groom arranges the music.
The bride's luggage is prepared, and she sits on a chair next to it and looks at herself in a mirror.
Before she leaves, they lower the veil.
The bridegroom's messengers begin to load the chaise onto the horses.
The horse intended for the bride is gray and decorated with a gem. Relatives help her mount the horse, which is then led by the brothers-in-law.
As the bride is brought out, the music plays farewell songs:
"Forgive mother, forgive!
Forgive me, my great one…”
The groom awaits the bride in her new home.
There is also a ritual in the wedding procession. It is mandatory to pass through a fountain. There the attendant takes off the bride's shoe and supposedly they row water, which he offers to the bride to drink. This is called getting the bride drunk.
The procession then proceeds to the groom's home, who waits outside the gate along with his family and relatives.
The groom dismounts her from the horse and carries her up the stairs.
Thus the bride enters the home of the groom.
Wedding
The groom has no right to touch the bride if there is no wedding ceremony
It is carried out with representatives from both sides. It is not necessary for the newlyweds to attend the ritual.
The Hoxha sings a special prayer after asking those present if they agree to the marriage. Then the newlyweds can already be closer.
Next comes the washing of the bride. The ablution is done by the bridegroom with fresh milk.
The bride's chaise is shown as she sits again on a low stool looking at herself in a mirror. Face your luggage…
Then it is celebrated. At the beginning of the celebration, pre-purchased gifts are distributed - socks, towels and others, which the bride gives to the guests.
It is still celebrated on the second day. Everyone in order - the mother, father, father-in-law, mother-in-law lead the chorus.
THE CUSTOM WITH THE SHIRT
In the morning, after the young people had slept together, it was necessary to prove / show whether the bride was "honest". Then the celebration continued.
If things were not as they should be, everything was returned - both the chaise and the bride.
Then she could marry again, but elsewhere - in another place.
Ritual "Returns"
At this ritual, one goes back to the bride's parents, all bearing gifts.
The bridegroom's relatives bring prepared cakes and food. The bride's parents have also prepared for the guests. Relatives are also present.
The bride returns home. The song "Until now I've listened to you mother, now I'll listen to mother-in-law..."
The celebration continues with people, songs and merriment.
The bride kisses the hand of the father-in-law and mother-in-law.