GAZA CITY — Arafat Helles, a professor of social services at Al-Quds Open University in Gaza, will begin his Eid al-Fitr morning with a special prayer at the mosque to mark the end of Ramadan. He will then eat a breakfast of salty cheeses to line his stomach for what is to come. After that, he will set out with his three brothers and father across the Gaza Strip to visit some 15 sisters, aunts, and nieces, doling out dinars and shekels as part of a Palestinian custom of men marking the Muslim holiday by giving an eidiya, a gift of money, to female relatives.
The visits will follow an almost choreographed routine. At each home, the men will be plied with coffee and sweets. After little more than 15 minutes, the social calls will end — a rarity in a society where such visits may last for hours, and often end in an invitation to stay for dinner.
“This is the eidiya visit,” said Mr. Helles. “It’s one of our important…
2023-04-21 02:00:12
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