File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎455v] (921/946)

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wife of
'Ida D'Sliva. (Feast of the Cross—in remembrance of the discovery by Helena,
Constantine, of the cross, on which our Lord was crucified.)
Candles are made from nut oil, and according to the number of persons in the family, they are
placed in a row in front of the windows (one candle for each member of the family). They are
kept alight all the night, until they are burnt out.
Qudash Aidta. (Feast of the Sanctifications of the Church).—On this day all wines must be
tasted. This Sunday has been called “The day of the Tasting of Wines”.
Ida D'Gilyqna. (Feast of the Revelation).—On this day it is said that the heaven opens, and
should any man see this, he will receive whatever he asks heaven for.
Once on this feast a man wished to ask God to take him up to heaven : accordingly he wrapped
himself in a carpet and awaited the opening of the heavens. While he was asleep, however, four
men came and took hold of his meagre bed and lifted it up, shaking him as if he was being taken
up to heaven. As soon as he awakened he cried “ Gidin Li Watakh” (Draw me to you). But
instead of this happening, he was thrown into the water in a rice field.
On this feast the water-melon and cucumber gardens are thrown open to all the guests and
visitors.
This is also the feast of the tasting of the new honey taken from combs out of the Beehive.
Khaushiba DBanati.” (The Sunday of Girls).—On this day all sons-in-law with their wives
and children visit the houses of their fathers-in-law. Everything in the house is theirs to do with
it as they like.
Kh aus l l iba D Qariva. (The Sunday of Godfathers).—On this day a celebration is held by the
Godfather in honour of the newly married man and all his friends.
Torasla D'Saidau. (The preparation of “ Saidau ”) is one of the old customs carried out as
follows :—
,. . . A1 !, the chlldren collect from the village a quantity of wheat and ghi, cook it into a meal and
divide it among themselves. Each takes his share to his own house and all the members of the
lamily will taste it, in order to drive away coughs and colds from them all.
Another custom of the children is called
Torasta D Saumika. (The preparation of Saumika).—A boy is dressed in women’s and a girl
the m bov T^frd 0th H S ’ T f 6 b ?p, h made up t0 look vei A u - 1 y> the wearing a beard and
the boy a beard and moustache. Then a party of children follow them through the village
gathering nuts and raisins. * vinagc,
At the beginning of Lent a bunch of eight feathers, equal to the number of Sundays in Lent
Ltto is puUed outTntil S'^finisL’d. 0 ' ^ h ° USe ^ " PieC6 ° f Every Sunday
o « , The ™ onth of February is said to be accursed, and a custom has arisen whereby invitations
wanr Ue At 0 th P p e T V 0 f t ^ eVer ^? ay u ndnig £ hteaChh ° USe in the vilIage ^s a visitor to keep it
™ arm - At . ^ e i ld of fhf m pnth a heap of sticks is burned to show that the month has been
U f ? ec m th ® hie, and the children with burning faggots in their hands drive it from the houses
even thiusting the burning wood into walls in case it should be lurking there still.
7. AFFAIRS IN BA‘QUBA AND CONCLUSION.
In the absence of Mar Shimun, Mar Khananishu’, the Metropolitan officiates for him and is
his personal representative. Surma Khanim (Sister of the Patriarch, Mar Shimun) is the general
internal leader of the Assyrians. All the affairs of the nation are brought to her notice and
Comnlftte S e)t 01 ?hp W ff ° U | t he ‘' kno, fl ed « e - U 6 committee (e. The National (Patriarchal) Assyrian
T i ff £ ? representative of the nation and deals with all its internal affairs It acts
Whnt the . orders of ffie English Government and of the above mentioned Khanim (Lady).
Mnl'i evei ls ^ e d uli ed in the Section (as far as their work is concerned) the committee asks the
Msr Vhl Ra T J he nat r 1 0n t ° 1 have done b y a fixed ^6. The President of the committee
r K ^ an ! sha- r o Very rhursday from seven to twelve in the morning the committee holds its
meeting in the tent of Surma Khanim. Every matter (which has come up before^rcommiSee or
committee 100 ming thC PaSt WGek 18 fulIy considered and finally approved or rejected by the
1 he Law committee (consisting of four members) meets in the Church tent in the camn nf thp
mhrn" ° f M rT Shim Un ’ t0 j ud ? e theh - cases ‘ ^ese members have been chisenlrom the com
mttee since they were considered to be active and capable of deciding justly
less ^^^S^^he ^ AS ~ ° f — ^ di8Wct ha8 rnore or
groJweaTyo' «^ing. a11 CUSt ° mS ° £ the ASS5 ' rianS in det3i1 ' ‘ he Pen WOuld faiI ' and reader
QUASHA YOKHANNAN ESHU,
Secretary of National Assyrian Committee.