It’s not a religious thing
I used to know a lot of people in University, because I spent my life not talking to people growing up, and thought University had such cool smart open minded people that I had to be friends with. You guys know how that turned out to be. *sigh* 90% of my friends in University were Christian. Arab Christian to be exact. How and why that happened, I have no clue.
Anyways, I had an Iraqi Christian friend who was a bit stubborn, and lived in a bubble of her own beliefs. I used to argue a lot with her about religion. Even though she lived in an Arab country when she was young and should be very familiar with Arab Muslim lifestyle, her acceptance of Arab non-Christian customs being very similar to hers was something she refused to acknowledge.
Thanksgiving
It is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. So long weekend! YAY! Anyways, one time I had a very long argument with her about Thanksgiving. I blurted out a few years back on this holiday weekend that we bought the turkey and stuff for Thanksgiving. She said, “WHAT? You are NOT Christian!” I told her, “Since when is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday? Is it in the bible?” She said, “Doesn’t matter. Us Christians celebrate it here. Not Muslims.”
I was like wow.
I wanted to know exactly why she thought of it as a Christian holiday. So I asked her, “What is the purpose of Thanksgiving? Isn’t it to thank God for everything he gave us?” She said, “Yes, to our God!” I said, “Your God? Since when is OUR Muslim God any different then YOUR Christian God? IT’S THE SAME GOD!” She refused to believe that.
You can tell that friendship didn’t last too long with her putting that barrier of you are this and I am that! I hate that in any friendship!
Engagement Parties
Oh I hate going to engagement parties. I also hate going to wedding parties. Just celebrating someone else’s misfortune is really bad. I feel horrible! Not only that, you have to give them a GIFT for such an occasion! Sheesh! Anyways, us Muslims have engagement parties. It’s so old school for us, and almost everyone does it. Any type of party, as long as it is a party to celebrate the misfortune with other people. It has nothing to do with religion but traditions. You get engaged or married, you throw a party and waste money telling people,”Dude, someone is making out tonight!!”
Lamos!
You can tell I don’t like social gatherings being an introvert and all. But meh, customs are customs. Traditions are traditions. Waste of money and showing off on engagement and wedding parties is the ultimate manifestation in every culture.
Back to my main point. That same girl I knew had a serious problem with the idea that Muslims have engagement parties. We were discussing it one day, and she said, “Engagement parties is a Christian thing only.” I said, “Aha? So you are allowed to celebrate, and we can’t.” She said, “Muslims don’t celebrate anything. It is a sin for them.”
I was like okkkkkk!! Arguing anymore with her about that subject was gonna give me an ever lasting migraine.
I know that not many people are like her. Actually, I don’t believe there are other people like her with such stubborn one pointed views. In conclusion, I am not friends with her anymore because she has serious problems, but thinking of Thanksgiving this weekend reminded me of her. I can’t wait to devour that turkey! I don’t eat meat much, but I like the turkey that mom cooks in a kick ass way! Yummy! Gobble Gobble!
Confused, Culture, Idiots, Religion, They said what?, Whatever!
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This is so stupid, I am an Arab Christian and never in my life met anyone who though that Muslims don’t celebrate engagement parties or Thanksgiving. Especially coming from IRAQ, I am sure she has seen in her own eyes that Muslims have bigger parties then us Christians when it comes to weddings. There had to be something wrong with this girl.
She sounds like a close-minded idiot. Brainwashed by her parents perhaps?
Thanksgivng is not religious, but I thought Arabs eat mansaf on thanksgiving…loool!!!
Just kidding, my family doesn’t do any special dinner on thanksgiving.
Um, wow. Just…wow.
There’s a part of me that wants to ask how she explains all the people who are neither Muslim nor Christian (like me!) and yet will gather at Thanksgiving for a feast and a chance to be with family….Not only at Thanksgiving but —get this — actually spend quite a lot of cash on parties for engagements, weddings, bridal and baby showers, etc…
But, let’s entertain her idea for a moment…Let’s go with the American Pilgrim story of thanksgiving. Their religious sect and the Puritan colony they built in Massachusetts Bay has got to rank among the most Un-Fun society in history, ever! They really didn’t celebrate much at all, unless there was a witch to burn…
@mohamed
I ate Mansaf once and I hated it! It’s not an Arab dish. It is Jordanian.
Wow…that is a first. I never heard of Thanksgiving being “just a Christian holiday”. Let her stay under the rock that she is clearly under.
@alicia
I know people who are not Christian or even believe in God and celebrate Christmas. It is a commercial holiday you know. Kind of sad actually.
@Mona
No, It’s not only Jordanian, It is also Palestinian but only in khaleel and ariha, since you come from 3akka and I come from yaffa, we dont eat mansaf. Jordanians are also considered as arabs…come on mona!!
I understand why you hate it, mansaf has a very strong taste. As for me, I can eat it, but I’m not a fan.
@mohamed
I didn’t mean it as Jordanian are not Arabs. You said it is an Arab dish. I said no because not all Arabs eat it. You misunderstood.
i hope she has a happy thanksgiving lol p.s u 2 mona
when is thanksgiving in arab countrys ?
@Mona
@Charlie Hayse
We don’t have a day for Thanksgiving. We thank God every day!
so really muslims dont have thanksgiving ?lol i mean 100% arab muslims living in there country
is there a day in the muslim calender 4 thanksgiving (2 celebrate thanksgiving) ?
@Mona
Thats true Mona, not all arabs eat it. By saying Arabs, I could’ve meant only Jordinians, so in other words mansaf is an arab dish…loool!!!…just messing with you.
“We thank God every day!” Thats so true, Ulhamdulillah.
@Charlie Hayse
What are you talking about? Thanksgiving is only a Canadian and American holidays. More of a tradition!
I told you, for Muslims every day we thank God. We don’t need a day!
u said 2 yr used 2 be friend I told her, “Since when is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday if its not in the muslim calnder its not a muslim holiday n if u gets a long weekend that sounds more like a holiday 2 me then a tradition but 4 sure its a traditon 2
Mensaf…MY FAVORITE! Of course I am Jordanian..Nothing like eating mensaf with your hands
Brain washed by her parents? NO. In her own little psychotic world? YES…she’s a weirdo. BTW FYI, THEY EAT MENSAF IN THE KHALEEJ TOO, but yes, it is originally a Jordanian dish, started by the beautiful Bedou 
ALSO, NOT JUST MUSLIMS, BUT ALL ARABS thank God everyday for everythinG..AL HAMDILLILAH.
Charlie, it’s not that Muslims don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, us arab christian’s never celebrated it in the middle east ever. We thank God every single day for everything
@Mary Barahmeh
yes i know as i am a muslim convert n i also thank god everyday(i dont need 2 tell any1 that caz god knows ) i was just wondering if it really is or was a chirstain holiday like who had the first thanksgiving it had 2 come from somewhere ? salams
Thanksgiving is the North American version of a harvest festival. There are many harvest festivals around the world.
Mona, it took me a long time to figure out Thanksgiving wasn’t a Christian Holiday as well, to be honest! I used to have some Jewish friends when i was a kid and when they’d talk about what they were doing on Thanksgiving I was like “What in the hell are you celebrating Thanksgiving for!? You’re Jewish!”. I really don’t know how I got that impression, except maybe all the Christian traditions that surround Thanksgiving. I’m not really sure why we still celebrate Thanksgiving at all in the US anymore. I’m sure that the original colonists also thanked God every day… numerous times… considering they were Puritans. But those first few years when the crops came in it meant they’d survive the winter, which was never a sure thing being so far from home. It was a very special celebration, to them. But that was ~400 years ago! Americans haven’t had to worry about whether they’d survive the winter or not in a very long time!
lol. Thats kind of ignorant but also funny. Im starting to think thats the Iraqi mentality. Iraqi kurds think theyre the best, Sunnis think theyre the best, Shiites think theyre the best, Christians e,t,c. The Iraqi jews I know however are the kindest arabs ive met in my life. Ive havent met a rotten one. =)
Ha! I met so many of them at uni too. In the end I couldn’t help but to just laugh in their face.
Coming from the UK, the biggest problem I got was being a convert… no one could understand why on earth I’d want to willingly be a muslim or even worse hang around arabs and enjoy their customs/food etc…
And the people who have known you 2 minutes judging you and wondering why on earth you best friend is all foreign looking or sounds exotic.
Who cares what the cynics say – Bring on the Turkey!!! (Even tho british people dont do thanksgiving but turkey is good).
Don’t you love ppl who don’t subscribe to your religion telling you about what _you_ believe.
Well, she sounds like she is in a deep denial aye!
Just ignore it Mona! 
mona are you fat? cus u hate arabs, but your christian friend has a weak religion anyway. as for you now how is getting married a misfortune, i think that once you get some d*@k in your life you wont keep talking all this about arab this and arab that. dont be mad if no one wants to marry you lets see how you feel when your 50 somehting and your all alone, tell me then that your happy to be with your cats and your computer.
”mona are you fat? cus u hate arabs”
Im guessing there is a positive correlation between weight gain and hatred of arabs???
”once you get some d*@k in your life you wont keep talking all this about arab this and arab that”
I nearly fell off my chair! You are very brave osama
@osama
Umm.. So you are saying Fat people hate Arabs? Ok.. I am not fat because I don’t hate Arabs. Sorry I didn’t satisfy your assumption and prove that you are right.
Once I do get an Arab man in my life, he will not be a pea brained idiot who thinks fat people hate Arabs.
@Mona
@osama
Why would anyone want a guy who talks like this – Arab or no Arab – have respect when talking to a woman.
@Moonstar Silverwolf
Forget him.. he is banned.
@Mona
Although I directed it at him, I think it’s still relevant. So don’t worry
@Moonstar Silverwolf
It’s ok.. I just didn’t have time for such idiots who only want to come to my site to just say stupid things and say that their purpose is to piss me off. Why can’t they engage in an intellectual conversation.. Some men.. Idiots!
I agree. But, alas, there are some in this world who do not understand this concept. Unfortunately, these same beings are the ones who are more likely to produce more children, thus creating a growing cycle of ignorance & stupidity. Intellectuals need to start making babies..and go
lol