Saudi Arabia gears up for Haloween with queues for pumpkins and costumes

[Rafi]

The origins are essentially irrelevant - it has to do more with commercialization and product sales. The social media herd mentality requires participation or you lose “relevancy ” and acceptance.

What started off purely as a childrens activity in the United States is now a global phenomenon due to cultural export and has economic aspects to it. Frankly all of it has and has little to do with why Hallowed-eve even occured.

As for KSA, their society was never as Islamic as portrayed and a lot of activities much like halloween were underground. Much like Pakistan there isn’t anything within the culture to offer to blow off steam especially during the adolescent period so more attractive avenues are available. None of which the general simpleton and myopic flag bearer of Islamic education in these countries has the ability to counter as they are unable to articulate what is Islam and what is cultural dogma to anyone who has more than 12 years of education.

Took part in some of the best orgies I have ever seen in good ol' Riyadh.

 

[untitled]

I had to sit in the dark today just so I don’t have little choohas knocking at my door, it’s annoying.

Did you get free toilet paper?

So in Saudi if you do not get a treat, do you spray the victim's house with a portable Muslim shower?

 

[Zibago]

Saudi Arabia's full embrace of Halloween is delighting foreign residents and Saudis alike, as pumpkins, lights and ghoulish decorations spring up around malls and homes in the kingdom.

Ryan Davidson, an American national, spent some of Thursday shopping for a werewolf costume in Riyadh for a Halloween party at the weekend.

“Never would I have imagined Halloween here being such a big deal as it is in the US … I am really excited for this weekend.”

But it wasn't always this way.

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Many foreign nationals say Halloween and Christmas used to be celebrated quietly until Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 was announced, which helped liberate religious and other festivals celebrated by the kingdom's diverse population.

Fahad Alzowaid, a store manager at decoration and costume store Party Experts in Riyadh, said he was enjoying seeing the happiness the holiday brought to people.

“Everyone is buying make up, costumes and props to celebrate it,” he said.

“People are lining up and waiting up to 40 minutes just to buy costumes. The government has been great at controlling the pandemic and has helped avert this disaster.”

But Covid-19 is still a concern with a tradition that usually involves participants going door-to-door to collect sweet treats from homes in their neighbourhoods.

Imagine, Saudis used to travel abroad to experience these activities and now our government has brought them home so we can enjoy them here with our friends and families
Enas Abdullah
Rates of the virus have dropped in the kingdom in recent weeks, with daily cases hovering at about 50. Saudi Arabia has registered 548,530 cases since the start of the pandemic.

“Things are getting better but I am ensuring there are masks and limited gatherings for the safety of our children,” said Ghada Batarjee, a Saudi national, who is creating an immersive experience “with spooky carved-out pumpkins, webs, lanterns and costumes” for her friends and children at home on Friday.

“We have been celebrating every year but now its more widespread as the government has opened up interactive events, stores and other entertainment venues,” she said.

“It's so much fun for the kids — they love trick-or-treat, going down the road. Most of our neighbours have neon lights and signs saying 'ring the bell for treats' and it helps bring the community together in a festive way.”

Malls around the kingdom are selling Halloween-inspired costumes and decorations, while bakeries and supermarkets are capitalising on the pumpkin season and are offering items for those celebrating Halloween.


“We have events in our compound every year, with competitions for best dressed, but it was hard to source decorations and costumes locally up until now,” said Natasha Ahmed, a South African national visiting the Mall of Arabia in Jeddah.

“Today, we are in the malls and everywhere you go, you can easily find them.”

This year, people can attend public Halloween events with their families, including Horror Adventures at Riyadh Season’s Winter Wonderland, which has a haunted house, a scary maze and games.

A screengrab from the video of Saudi Arabian residents gear up for Halloween.

In the capital, people can also drive up to the Tuwaiq Palace parking area in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh for trick-or-treating and participate in fun competitions for the whole family.

Syrup Lounge in Riyadh is hosting a costume party for children and a ladies' night that includes games, family activities and more.

Even fitness enthusiasts can celebrate Halloween at gyms that are hosting special events during Halloween. Rebel 1 gym is hosting “heart-pumping” sessions and offering treats.

“Imagine, Saudis used to travel abroad to experience these activities and now our government has brought them home so we can enjoy them here with our friends and families,” Enas Abdullah, a Saudi national living in Riyadh tells The National.

“We are dressing up as Squid Games characters and my cousins are coming as vampires.”

Saudi Arabia gears up for Halloween with queues for pumpkins and costumes | The National

Residents delighted by safety, innovative ideas and immersive experiences for holiday in the kingdom

www.thenationalnews.com

And here we have laalbaykis worrid about namos e rizvi

Astagfirullah. End times

Damn if end times are like this sign me up

 

[Meengla]

Too much complaining here about Halloween. Halloween is not a religious event and people of all ages, including me, enjoy it. Halloween is a no strings attached fun: No gifts, no expectations to participate or not. And many Christians don't approve of Halloween--in fact, condemn Halloween.
This pic taken by me a couple of days ago.

 

[Adecypher]

Another example of munafqat - that is - “khula tazaad” …

 

[SQ8]

Too much complaining here about Halloween. Halloween is not a religious event and people of all ages, including me, enjoy it. Halloween is a no strings attached fun: No gifts, no expectations to participate or not. And many Christians don't approve of Halloween--in fact, condemn Halloween.
This pic taken by me a couple of days ago.

View attachment 789363

Frankly 999/1000 people wont be be able to provide the origins of halloween. To most its just a children’s holiday and an excuse to get them sweet treats. You don’t need to dress them up as anything but doesn’t stop you from enjoying the day.

Took part in some of the best orgies I have ever seen in good ol' Riyadh.

They also have some of the most open marriage laws today and in that respect no qualms about marrying divorcées compared to the Bani Bakistan who think divorcée’s are achoot.. being the Hindu-muslims they are.

 

[Meengla]

Frankly 999/1000 people wont be be able to provide the origins of halloween.

Yes, most people don't know the origins of Halloween. I didn't until I saw this documentary. When I came to America decades ago, it was a bit of shock to hear people celebrating Halloween. I was a bit judgmental about Halloween. But quickly learned it's just another way for people to have fun IF they want to! Halloween is the second biggest consumer spending event in America, only behind Christmas. And people condemning it because of Western/Christian roots should realize it is a slippery slope to cultural suffocation which is never healthy for any society. Moderation is the key!
Anyway, here is the documentary. You will notice how the Christian church resisted the ancient Celtic tradition and then eventually adapted that.

 

[PAKISTANFOREVER]

You know what is sad? What does that make the Pakistani's you see in UK who now have begun to wear Saudi style gowns with the headgear. I am sure you will have seen this.

It makes them confused and in need of education and finding out their TRUE identity.

Astagfirullah. End times

The world or anything else for that matter is NOT going just because some saudis decided to celebrate halloween or become pagans/satanists. They are not important.

 

[Novus ordu seclorum]

Too much complaining here about Halloween. Halloween is not a religious event and people of all ages, including me, enjoy it. Halloween is a no strings attached fun: No gifts, no expectations to participate or not. And many Christians don't approve of Halloween--in fact, condemn Halloween.
This pic taken by me a couple of days ago.

View attachment 789363

Saudi scholar: This was haraam, but I am glad with this message. Mushrik against Al Halla'aien means there is no shirk. There is benefit in this innovation, so it is a good bid'aa. Calling Jinn on this blessed day reminds us of Prophet Suleiman and of our own Prophet who recited the Quran to the Jinn. Alhamdulillah.

 

[Goritoes]

Halloween has no religious connection like Easter or Christmas, so relax its a fun activity. Yes the land itself has a significance in every Muslim's heart and we don't expect such events and celebrations in the land where Rasool Allah break the Idols and established the Authority of Allah Az Wajal. Pakistan ke Shia tu ese criticize kerte hai Saudi Wahabiyun ko jaise khud tu Farishtoon ke bhi abbu hun lol

 

[Novus ordu seclorum]

Halloween has no religious connection like Easter or Christmas, so relax its a fun activity. Yes the land itself has a significance in every Muslim's heart and we don't expect such events and celebrations in the land where Rasool Allah break the Idols and established the Authority of Allah Az Wajal. Pakistan ke Shia tu ese criticize kerte hai Saudi Wahabiyun ko jaise khud tu Farishtoon ke bhi abbu hun lol

For many, Christmas isn't religious either. It's not a problem having fun. The issue is they ban Milad or Maulid, but welcome European pagan origin festivals. I wonder what their scholars say about it now. Until recently they would have said Halloween is haraam.

 

[SQ8]

For many, Christmas isn't religious either. It's not a problem having fun. The issue is they ban Milad or Maulid, but welcome European pagan origin festivals. I wonder what their scholars say about it now. Until recently they would have said Halloween is haraam.

Until a 100 years ago they said loudspeakers were haraam and now their entire lives revolve around it

 

[Novus ordu seclorum]

Until a 100 years ago they said loudspeakers were haraam and now their entire lives revolve around it

Also they had declared television haraam for sometime and cinema was banned until recently. They came up with positive spin regarding television as a medium for Dawah or something. I am wondering what positive spin they can come up for Halloween.

 

[Goritoes]

For many, Christmas isn't religious either. It's not a problem having fun. The issue is they ban Milad or Maulid, but welcome European pagan origin festivals. I wonder what their scholars say about it now. Until recently they would have said Halloween is haraam.

Time progress and so does cultural festivals, KSA is no exception to these changes... as I mentioned, because of the importance and unique position of the land itself we don't expect such festivities there, but people of KSA will adopt news ways to have fun... will you say just because a Saudi is born in KSA so he has no right to have fun the way he/she wanted within the Daira-e-Ikhlaaq of Islam?

 

[Novus ordu seclorum]

Time progress and so does cultural festivals, KSA is no exception to these changes... as I mentioned, because of the importance and unique position of the land itself we don't expect such festivities there, but people of KSA will adopt news ways to have fun... will you say just because a Saudi is born in KSA so he has no right to have fun the way he/she wanted within the Daira-e-Ikhlaaq of Islam?

I mentioned it's not a problem to have fun. They seem to have a preference for European origin festivals though.