Hassan, Naima, Almaz, and Abdo Effendi.. Minya celebrates Mawlid with folk tale puppets

The celebration of the Prophet’s birthday among Egyptians is associated with the traditional Mawlid doll and a horse made of sugar. Minya presented a different, richer, and more imaginative image, where the heroes of popular love stories such as “Hassan and Naima,” “Almaz and Abdu al-Hamuli,” and Princess “Qatr al-Nada” appeared to dominate the scene. This confirms the ability of heritage to renew itself and keep pace with people’s sentiments over time. At the heart of the popular atmosphere and celebrations in Minya is the scene of the Mawlid procession roaming the streets, the sound of colorful kite sellers, and the smell of chickpeas mixed with sweets.

Hassan and Naima, Almaz and Abdu effendi

While the traditional sugar bride is placed alone on vendors’ shelves in various places, other brides stand out in Minya in a different way. They mimic the heroines of famous folk love stories: Ali Hassan and Naima, Almaz and Abdo Al-Hamuli, and Princess Qatr Al-Nada, to stand alongside the traditional bride and complete the scene.

Ahmed Al-Rawi, a seller of Mawlid sweets and a lover of heritage and popular biography, links sweets to old stories and searches the popular heritage for glimpses of the past. In his tent, which resembles a popular theater, he sells sweets and tells stories. He recalls the stories of the Rababa poet and the biography of Abu Zeid al-Hilali, as well as the tales of Hassan and Naima, Almaz and Abdu al-Hamuli.

Al-Rawi says: “I have been selling Mawlid sweets and dolls for nearly 50 years. I am a lover of heritage and folk tales that I used to hear from Rababa singers.” He adds: “Customers come to me from all over, especially suitors and newlyweds, because I sell dolls in different shapes that tell folk tales that are still alive in the collective consciousness.”

The origin of the Mawlid doll

Regarding the origin of the Mawlid doll, the narrator explains: “The celebrations of the Prophet’s birthday began during the Fatimid era.

The caliph would ride out on his horse on the day of the Mawlid, accompanied by his wife, who wore a white dress. From that time on, Egyptians began to make Mawlid sweets in the shape of the bride and the horse.

The most famous of these is the story of Hassan and Naima. In the past, the story of Hassan al-Mughnati, son of the governor of Minya, and his beloved Naima was told to the accompaniment of the rababa. Over time, this story took shape, and the bride (Naima) and groom (Hassan) became symbols of the Mawlid, similar to the stories of Qais and Layla and Romeo and Juliet..

He continues: “There is also the bride Almaz and Abdu effendi, a love story as sparkling as diamonds. The singer Almaz met the singer Abdu Al-Hamuli, and their meeting turned into a famous love story, immortalized by history, and their wedding night was one for the ages. Five years after their marriage, Almaz died, and Alhamuli grieved and then passed away. It is one of those stories of endless love, and people buy these dolls to give as gifts to their fiancées.”

Qatr Al-Nada… Princess of Mawlid Dolls

Hajj Muhammad, 80, one of the oldest sellers of Mawlid sweets in Minya, says, “The demand for Mawlid dolls is increasing every year. There is always something new in the doll season. But Qat al-Nada remains the most beautiful and most popular. She is the princess of dolls, whose story is sung by rababa singers, and tells one of the most beautiful stories of Egyptian heritage.”

The disappearance of the puppet theater and the box of the world

Hajj Muhammad adds: “The celebrations have changed a lot from the past. Today, we miss the puppeteers who used to gather around the children, and the Sandouk Al-Dunya, or ‘box of the world,’ which used to tell folk tales. Other aspects have also disappeared, such as the singers, dancers, archery stands, fortune tellers, cannons, folk circuses, magicians, and clowns. In the past, the celebrations lasted seven nights, and food and drinks were distributed in every house.”

Young Ali Hassan says: “I came to the festival to buy a Qatari princess doll for my fiancée. But I was torn between that and the Hassan and Naima dolls. Young men buy these dolls to make their fiancées happy.”

The Mawlid procession: a state of joy and happiness

In a scene that is repeated every year and eagerly awaited by the people of Minya from various villages and towns, the “Mawlid procession” remains one of the most famous manifestations of the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday. It is a huge parade of horses and camels carrying green banners. At its center is the “Howdah and Mahmal al-Nabi” (the Prophet’s litter), accompanied by the beat of drums and tambourines.

The procession roams the streets and squares, passing between cooking tents and gatherings of remembrance, chanting, and supplication. During the procession, sweets are distributed to adults and children amid takbirs, prayers for the Prophet, and ululations.

Sheikh Ihab Abu Al-Ala, one of the Sufi leaders in Minya, says, “The Mawlid procession spreads joy and happiness in commemoration of the birth of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in the streets of cities, villages, and hamlets. It is associated in people’s minds with the sight of pilgrims’ processions in the past. When pilgrims sat in huts on the backs of camels on their way to Hajj, their families would bid them farewell with ululations and supplications. Upon their return, people would gather around the huts and kiss them, believing that they carried the scent of the holy places.”

An authentic folk character

Alaa Fikri, 50, a teacher from Abu Qirqas, believes that the Minya governorate has an authentic folk character in commemorating the Prophet’s birthday. Most families, young and old, participate in this occasion. Children wear jilbabs and carry wooden swords.

Citizens also attend sessions of remembrance and praise and feed food throughout the week. People come from villages and hamlets to the city to celebrate, culminating in the big night, the night of the Mawlid.

The taratir seller… the maker of joy

“Shakhlilah for the family… O father of children, take seven taratirs… Taratirs, oh son of taratirs.” With this famous song performed by Salah Jaheen in The Big Night Operetta, Bendag, the taratir seller, calls out to children to buy taratirs, shakaleel, toys, hats, and whistles from him.

Bendag says, “I learned how to make kites years ago, and I make them myself using simple and inexpensive materials such as wrapping paper, foam, and colored crepe paper. In addition to reinforced cardboard, pins, and glue.”

He adds, “I sell joy to children, and we earn our living during the seasons and holidays. We go around selling toys, kites, balloons, and hats.” He points out that demand increases during the Prophet’s birthday, when children flock to buy kites and animal and bird masks.

Chickpeas, chickpeas… nothing is missing

“Chickpeas, chickpeas… nothing is missing, workers are dancing, and he says: Whoever has seen chickpeas or anything else, love and affection or nothing else.” This is how Bilal, a chickpea and peanut seller, calls out to children and adults on the big night of the Prophet’s birthday, inviting them to buy chickpeas.

Bilal says, “The demand for hummus and peanuts is unusually high during the Prophet’s birthday season. It is one of the ways of celebrating the birthday.” Regarding the preparation of hummus for sale, he explains: “There are secrets and steps involved, starting with putting it in the sun for 40 days. Then it is moistened and put in the roaster. Local chickpeas are better than Sudanese ones in terms of taste and benefits. Sales flourish during the Prophet’s birthday, which attracts many visitors. It is considered the best season of the year.”