The strangest argument. Religion v.s Candy. So here is what happened a few minutes ago. I told my brother and his wife about the clothes I am getting my sister for Halloween. My sister wants to be a witch with pink hair. My brother was like cool. I then said, I want to dress up Malak (my niece, his daughter) in a pumpkin. He said, “what.. why pumpkin? She has to be something else.. but his wife said no..”
I told her, “why don’t you want to dress her up? Is it cause it is cold? She is only 2 months old, she can go next year.”
She said, “no.. never.”
I said, “huh?”
She said, “all this Canadian superstitions and stupid celebrations. All haram (sinful). Just like Thanksgiving 3 days ago.”
My mom made turkey like she did every year for the past 15 years we have been in North America.
I said, “it is only candy and dressing up in something cute.”
She said, “I can get her candy. No need to dress up and walk around stupid skeletons and blood in stupid costumes.”
My brother flipped.
He said, “excuse me.. my daughter will go to Halloween. I will take her outside in the baby carriage for a stroll around the houses. So what?”
My brother was so mad. I never seen him mad at his wife before. He is usually mad at us and screaming at us.
She said, “no.. it is all haram!”
I just left cause I didn’t want to be a part of this argument. It just made me realize what I have to deal with. She is a bit odd and thinks everything we do and life in Canada is all sinful. Even though she is lucky she is no longer a Palestenian refugee living in Lebanon in war.
It’s no wonder my mom gets irritated from her and the way she takes care of Malak. So I went to the kitchen where my mom was making ma3mool (cookies) for Eid.
She said, “why does your brother always scream. Will he ever sit quiet for once.”
I told her what happened.
She said, “ic.. so it’s like that eh.. even an innocent kid’s little holiday for getting candy and she is against it.”
I never seen my mom this way. My parents are very religion people, although my mom doesn’t wear hijab (head veil), she is very strict. All day long she keeps telling us, go pray.. did you pray? Did you read Quran? I was just surprised with her reaction.
She said, “this is Canada. We have to live and be like other people just so we feel like we belong here and not foreigners. This is our land and what’s wrong with giving candy to cute kids dressed up?”
My dad is the same. He is the one that makes sure we give out a bag full of candy in Halloween. He buys so much candy and my sister gets the first bag. We are known as the generous house in the neighborhood. Kids love coming to our door. My dad, even when he lived alone in the US for a year has bought candy for the kids in his apartment building. It is kids who want candy! They dress up in silly clothes and say “trick or treat!”
I mean common. Halloween is my favourite time in the year! I always complain and think Halloween should be an official holiday. I never dressed up or went to trick or treating, but I love giving candy to kids and seeing their costumes. I find it cute! And for little princess girls I give them two bags for being adorable!
Anyways.. my sister is going to be the witch and I am walking with her around the neighborhood to collect candy because free candy is awesome!!!
Now I know how my brother’s wife is like. I kind of suspected it and she was very shy and quiet when she first came here.. but now.. she says very odd things and reminds me of these FOBS (fresh off the boat) people that just came to this country with their close minded thoughts and thinking that everything is SINFUL!
