Girgean, during the holy month of Ramadan, is an exciting event full of joy and happiness for children in Kuwait and most of the Gulf region. This traditional annual festival is eagerly looked forward to by children every year.
Girgean is connected with the religious spirit of Ramadan and is celebrated since ages on the 13th, 14th and 15th day of the month of Ramadan. Despite the passage of time, the festival follows the same patterns and rituals.
Holding onto their rich culture and tradition, children, after breaking their fast in the evening, wear fancy, traditional outfits and clothing where boys would wear bright ‘Thawbs’, traditional caps, vests, beautifully hand-woven ‘Bisht’ and girls would wear ‘Dira’ahs’ with embroidery and lace skirts topped with golden headdresses before heading out with their colorfully designed Girgean bags to collect candy and sweets. This is marked with children going from house to house knocking on doors to receive sweets and nuts or money from neighbors, whilst also singing traditional songs.
Although the celebration of Girgean, as most believe, shares superficial similarities with the Halloween custom of trick-or-treating that is practised in some Western countries, Girgean has no connection with horror nor associated origins of Halloween. The Girgean tradition is intended to spread love, happiness and affection among adults and children. In modern times, supermarkets, corporates, and malls compete to attract children during this time by offering special promotions on sweets, nuts and chocolates.
Girgian bags and baskets are known to many children in Kuwait, but the Girgean boxes, the handmade ‘Choola’ is unique to many Kuwaiti homes which are used by adults to store Girgean gifts. The boxes are colorfully designed, made of wood, corrugated tin, and embellished with designs distinct to Kuwait. The nights of Girgean conjure visions of young children running around the streets singing and holding colorful lanterns alongside decorated bags.
Girgean continues to evolve throughout the years and gift-giving has become very significant. One thing is for certain, the activity would forever remain an integral part of Ramadan’s tradition in Kuwait and elsewhere in the region.
