View of part of the Fujairah Corniche and the Hajar Mountains in the Background

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Easter in the Emirates

Very little information is posted publicity concerning Easter activities in the UAE and what is a major Christian festival in other parts of the world, largely goes unnoticed in the Emirates.

Churches do have a larger raft of services over this weekend, although Easter Sunday is a working day. Depending on your tradition you might find a foot washing ceremony, The Stations of the Cross, a Saturday candlelight vigil and an Easter dawn service.

In Fujairah there is more attention given by supermarkets to the annual Mango Festival than to the Easter celebration. You might locate Easter items in some of the supermarkets in the UAE’s larger cities but in Fujairah it is hard to find a chocolate egg, a hot cross bun or a greeting card.

Online flower shops are inviting people to celebrate Easter with especially designed bouquets and baskets on the themes, ‘Springtime Joy’, ‘Awake with Gladness’ and ‘Love some Bunny’.

Some international hotels and restaurants have a special ‘Easter Brunch’ menu with Easter egg hunts while a Dubai golf club is scheduling an ‘Easter Tee Party’.

Geoff Pound

Image: Saying it with flowers.