Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
FAMILIES across Bahrain and getting ready for Gargaoun, a tradition festival of fun celebrated annually on the 15th night of Ramadan.
On Friday night boys and girls will dress up in traditional Bahraini clothes and go out on the streets carrying bags to collect money, sweets and nuts from their family, friends and neighbours
Many expats confuse the event with the Western trick or treat custom which, particularly in the US, is now one of the main traditions of Halloween.
In Bahrain, children knock on doors, sing special Gargaoun songs and ask for a treat ... and the more you give the more cheering you will hear.
The bags the children carry are often decorated with different designs for boys and girls. The children are usually accompanied by a drum player to announce their arrival and another adult who performs the role of a knight on a wooden horse, locally called 'Fraisa'.
The wooden horse is decorated with glittery and colourful fabrics and Gargaoun is a joyful and happy event for both the children and the people who give away the treats.
Human resources assistant Mahnaz Abdulla Ibrahim, 28, and her husband Ahmed Jahangeer, who works for Gulf Air, live in Muharraq and said their two children, Noor, six, and Ali, three, are eagerly awaiting Gargaoun.
"They are very excited about the event and can't wait to celebrate it. I have bought a beautiful jalabiya for Noor and a thobe for Ali to wear on this special occasion," their proud mum said.
"Every year I make sure that my children are ready for Gargaoun, that is why I buy their clothes in advance along with matching bags for their treats!
"I am going to take them to my grandmother's house to collect their treats and then to my aunt's house for more celebrations.
"Noor is all set, she already gave her little brother crisps, juice and a bottle of water and kept it in his Gargaoun bag as a gift from her.
"Ali is not used to wearing his thobe so he is finding it difficult to walk in it, but he has a plenty of time to practice until Friday.
Mahnaz remembers celebrating the day when she was growing up in Bahrain. "Like my children now," she said, "I loved to celebrate Gargaoun.
"My mother used to buy me a thobe nashal or bokhnag (both traditional embroidered outfits that are available in bright colours) to wear for the occasion and tailored with it a bag.
"I used to go to our neighbour's house to collect treats with my brothers, sisters and cousins and it was great fun.
"I remember that all the girls were dressed in beautiful colours and the boys used to wear thobes with matching hats. And, they all jointly sang Gargaoun songs.
"My favourite part was the 'Fraisa'. I used to love to watch the wooden horse dance to the sounds of the drums played by the boys."
Mahnaz celebrated the event up until the age of eight.
"Unfortunately nowadays we don't see as many children celebrate the day except in areas like Muharraq, Riffa and Isa Town.
"It is sad really because I believe that as parents we should maintain this tradition and allow our little ones to experience the fun we used to have when we were their age.
"I have to admit that although I make sure that my children celebrate the event, I don't allow them to go out alone on the streets on this day because it is not safe anymore. I am scared of the traffic and I don't trust strangers around my little ones," she added.
