Holidays! 9 Days – Oman Style!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been announced that government workers get the whole week off for Eid al Adha. That means with the 2 weekends, we’re looking at a 9 day holiday!

Instead of doing a little dance, I’m listening to this video and changing the lyrics to “Holidays – OMAN STYLE!”  Yippee!! “Ehhh, Omani ladies! Eid Al Adha Oman Style!”

“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (and Eid and National Day!)

Anyone familiar with Christmas Carols, upon reading the title above, would automatically think of this classic song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2k1ba0ecSc  That’s the song that goes though my mind as I see all the National Day lights along Sultan Qaboos Road in Muscat in November.  In addition, the Christmas stuff seems to appear in the malls earlier and earlier with each passing year.

Bareeq al Shatti mall

Bareeq al Shatti is the place to go if you’re looking for that patriotic Omani cowgirl look this National Day, ha!ha!  🙂

Private companies usually have an impressive assortment of lights (red, green and white and/or yellow to represent the Omani flag) on their buildings at night and put up giant Sultan Qaboos portraits with banners of “Felications” and “Congratulations” to the Sultan each November.  They seem to be even more over the top than usual this year as it’s the 40th National Day in Oman!

The perfect hat if you love Oman AND football, ha!ha!  🙂

This is an ad that is on the main doors of Seeb City Centre.  “Promise Fulfilled” (sounds a lot like “Mission Accomplished”…) is referring to many promises that Sultan Qaboos made in his early speeches in 1970 to do his best for the good of his nation and people I believe.  Oman’s development in the past 40 years is quite miraculous and many feel that it is largely due to the leadership of Sultan Qaboos.

The “promise fulfilled” poster above reminded me of the verse in 2 Corinthians 1:19 which states that all the promises of God are “Yes” or “Amen” in Christ Jesus. And to that I say “AMEN”!  🙂

Decorations are out and available for purchase at Home Centre! Carrefour’s Christmas stock won’t be out till next week the salesman informed me.  (We were looking for a Christmas tree…)

 The ice-skating rink building in Al Khuwair.  They’ve placed a giant portrait of Sultan Qaboos on this building since this photo.

It’s pretty neat that His Majesty’s birthday is in the second half of November.  With all the lights up on the streets, it seems like perfect timing for expats to get in the mood for Christmas seeing how it’s just a few short weeks away!