A MIXTURE of Somali and American Culture

At home we practice a mixture of Somali and American Culture. Somalia is a big country located in east Africa. There are many influences in Somalia.

Part of my culture I wish to share are the holidays called Eid al-Adha and Eid Al Fitr. These holidays are each once a year and a few months apart. One is celebrated after a month-long fasting called Ramadan and the other is celebrated right after a pilgrimage to the Ka’ba to honor the prophet Ibrahim. On Eids, we like to eat traditional Somali food and we go to the mosque to pray, dance, and rejoice.

In Somalia, women usually wear traditional dresses called dirac and guntumo. Dirac is an everyday wear that comes in two main pieces and a shawl that are very light and colorful whereas guntumo is a much heavier fabric and has a lot more pieces. They are usually reserved for special occasions. The men wear something called macawis and cummaamad which are bottom and top pieces of clothing.

Another part of my culture that is special to me is Somali food. Sambusa, khamir, shushumow and halawad are sweets I love. Suqaar is similar to beef stew except it does not have liquid and vegetables and is usually made with lamb and goat. Another one of my favorite Somali foods is iyo sabaayad. They are like croissants but flat. These are my most favorite dishes, especially on Eids. I am happy to share my culture’s food, traditional clothing, holidays, and a bit of me!