Lost In Translation
The sign in front of the local mosque read “Ramadan Mubarak!”, with reference in small print to something happening at 9:30 each evening. I had to know what this meant. After all, being raised Catholic, you never saw signs outside the church with exclamation points wishing you Merry Christmas!, Happy Easter! or even Blood Donor Clinic this Thursday at 2 p.m.!
Naturally, being the worldly sort that I am, the first thing I thought of when I saw the word Mubarak was Hosni, the President of Egypt. Thinking that the word was somehow tied to a feast or festival, I thought “what a happy-sounding name he has. Sort of like Jean Drapeau (in English: John Flag)” I had to find out more.
Turns out I was close. The all-knowing, all-powerful Wikipedia tells us that Mubarak is part of a greeting in Arabic at any given Festival, be it Ramadan, Eid or others. See? You and I both learned something today.
So, Ramadan Mubarak to all who observe. May your daytime crankiness brought on by your fervent fast be washed away by your evening feasts. Allah be praised!
Sunday September 07, 2008 | 08:37 PM in The World From My Window
