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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class — Holidays in Egypt Series at ArabicPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Egyptian holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Lesson 20, Baby Shower. In Egyptian Arabic, it’s called [ سبوع (subūʿ)].
In this lesson, we are going to talk about a beautiful day that every mother waits for; the Seventh Day of her newborn, or [ مولود(mawlūd)]. The Newborn's Seventh Day is a day that is full of fun and happiness as it is the day on which the family celebrates the coming of a new member, especially if he or she is the first baby of the family. The celebration of the Newborn's Seventh Day in Egypt is definitely different from any other place in the world.
In this episode, we are going to talk about the celebration aspects of the Newborn's Seventh Day in Egypt.
Now, before we go into more detail, do you know the answer to this question—
Do you know why Egyptians bang a small metal bell next to the baby's ear on the Newborn's Seventh Day?
If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.
The Newborn's Seventh Day is a tradition that usually occurs seven days after the birth of the baby. It is attended by the baby's father, mother, relatives, friends, and neighbors as well. The most important guests are the children of the family. At the beginning, they put the newborn in a sieve, or [ منخل(manḫul)], and the mother steps over the baby seven times. After that, they shake the baby in the sieve and bang the Hoon.
On the Newborn's Seventh Day, children hold lit candles and move around the baby while singing a very famous song called "halakatak bergalatak" as if they are congratulating their little friend for coming into the world, and they ask him/her to grow up and play with them. After that, Egyptians give the children the gifts of the Newborn's Seventh Day which are usually sweets and chocolates with dedications for the newborn written on them.
Some families offer food on the Newborn's Seventh Day, especially Muslim families. This is an Islamic tradition which is called [ عقيقه(ʿaqīqah)]. Others offer sweets, cakes, and chocolates. What makes the Newborn's Seventh Day in Egypt unique are those beautiful songs that were made exclusively for this occasion.
We shake the newborn in a sieve in order to tell them that the world is unstable and that it will sway them from one state to the other.
And now I'll give you the answer to the earlier quiz.
Do you know why Egyptians bang a small metal bell next to the baby's ear on the Newborn's Seventh Day?
Egyptians bang a small metal bell, or [ الهون (el-hoon)], next to the baby's ear so that they will not get scared from the loud and noisy voices that they are going to hear during their lives while growing up.
It is believed the tradition of banging the Hoon dates back to the time of the Pharaohs.
So listeners, how was this lesson? How do you celebrate newborns in your country? Let us know in the comments and we’ll see you next time! Bye! مع السلامة (maʿ el-salāmah)!

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