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| History ofAlgeria |
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InAlgeria, theIslamic festival ofAshura (Arabic:يوم عاشوراء), on 10Muharram, is a public holiday, traditionally marked by celebration,zakat-giving, fasting, and cemetery visits[1][2] depending on the region.[3][4] In some areas the celebration incorporates dances, music, and masquerades.
The day ofAshura is one of twelve[5][6] paidpublic holidays in Algeria, codified as such by law since 1963[7] (shortly afterindependence), and still in force today.[8]
Ashura's status as a public holiday in Algeria contrasts with the situation in some otherMuslim countries, such asSaudi Arabia orIndonesia, reflecting this holiday's traditional importance in Algerian culture.
The festival of Ashura, like otherIslamic holidays, is celebrated according to theIslamic calendar, which uses a lunar year eleven days shorter than the solar year. Its date in theGregorian calendar, which is solar, therefore varies from year to year.
Among theSunni majority of Algeria, following Sunni tradition, Ashura is considered as the anniversary of many blessed events in sacred history, such as the saving ofMoses and his people from Pharaoh, the saving ofNoah and his family from the Flood, the repentance ofAdam, etc.[9] Popular tradition in many regions thus treats it as an occasion for celebration and happiness, contrasting withShia tradition, in which Ashura is an occasion for mourning. This is, however, controversial within Sunni Islam, in Algeria and more broadly;Salafis, for instance, often citeIbn Taymiyyah, who condemned the celebration of Ashura with special dishes, kohl, henna, etc. in his own time as areligious innovation overreacting against Shia practice.[10]
While Islam does not requirezakat to be paid on a particular day, it is customary in Algeria to pay it on Ashura.[11][12][13] This practice is sometimes accompanied by material donations to the poor or by discount sales.[14][15]
Sufi brotherhoods andzawiyas often organize special events for Ashura, includingdhikr.[15][16] These may include tomb visits; for instance, inBouzeguene, women traditionally visit a marabout's mausoleum on Ashura,[17] while nearTimimoun, Ashura is the occasion for an annual visit (ziyara) to the tomb of a local saint, Sidi El Cherif.[18]
At sunset, the Ashura fast is typically broken with a feast. InAlgiers, chicken is preferred, raising its price considerably in the run-up to Ashura;[19][20][21] in theOuarsenis, rougag with chicken;[22] in theM'zab, a bean dish (ibawen);[23] inBouzeguene,couscous with mutton saved fromEid al-Adha;[17] inSidi Bel Abbès,trid.[24] In other places, popular choices includedolma,ghoriba, refiss, orbaghrir.[22] This dinner feast may also be used as the occasion to gather togetherzakat payments in kind, as atLaghouat.[25]
InTlemcen, women and children traditionally decorate themselves withhenna for the occasion.[26]
In many regions, the celebration also takes on overtly carnivalesque aspects, some of which have been claimed to be relics of pre-Islamic practices such asSaturnalia.[27] In some parts ofKabylie, Ashura was traditionally marked by masquerades, where people put on sharp-toothed masks or dressed up as donkeys or slaves.[27][28] InOuargla andGourara, the associated celebration is called "Biyanou", and children go trick-or-treating that day asking for snacks and sweets.[18] In theM'zab region in the south, children put onkohl and likewise go trick-or-treating from house to house, singing "Aba nouh"[29] and asking for sweets.[23] In southeastern Algeria among theTuareg, Ashura is traditionally marked by theSebiba festival, featuring dancing and music.[30][31]
The tradition of givingzakat to the poor and holding collective feasts at Ashura contributes to the holiday's role in Algeria as an occasion for solidarity and social assistance.[32][33][34][35]
In many Algerian cities, such asTlemcen, Ashura is the occasion for discount sales, starting from the first day of the month ofMuharram, and attracting crowds.[36] The urban cities are transformed during this day, in a gigantic market where all kinds of products are exposed, in particular articles that have been in stock too long.[37][38][39][40][41]
The poorest who have received their share of Zakat take advantage of this windfall to do their shopping.[42][43]
An Algerian child born on or around Ashura was traditionally often given the first nameAchour in honour of the occasion.[44][45]
Many parents prefer to reserve infants' first haircut for the day of Ashura.[22][14]
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Bold indicates major holidays commonly celebrated in Algeria, which often represent the major celebrations of the month. See also:Lists of holidays. | |
