KUWAIT CITY, Feb 26 (NNN-KUNA) – Kuwaitis celebrate their national and liberation days on Feb 25 and 26 every year. This year, its 60th National Day and 30th Liberation Day are celebrated amid COVID-19 restrictions.
The government cancelled nationwide celebrations, amid fears of the spread of the virus and to preserve safety of residents. On this occasion, Kuwaitis expressed their love for homeland in some other ways.
Hussein Hajiya, an admission employee at the Kuwait Technical College (Ktech), said that, the national day remains a major celebration for every Kuwaiti, stressing that this year’s celebration will be exceptional and different, due to the spread of COVID-19.
“I used to celebrate the National Day by attending carnivals organised by ministries, non-profit organisations, and private and public institutions. I was excited to attend such events that included activities and military shows with the participation of the army units,” he said.
“During my childhood, I used to participate in competitions and festivals that accompany this carnival, as it used to start with a large presence of citizens with army band playing in the background, in addition to the air show that drew the colors of the Kuwaiti flag in the air,” he said.
“Due to the COVID-19, the celebration will be cozy with the family. We will celebrate it inside our homes,” he said.
For her part, Afrah Sulaiman Al-Masai, an employee at the Public Authority for Minors Affairs of Kuwait, said that she used to celebrate with her family, by wearing the national dress, decorating her garden with the flags of Kuwait and playing national songs.
Her family used to organise competitions among family members, and late at night they used to set off fireworks, she said.
Her family will not celebrate the national holidays this year, for fear of the spread of the virus among its members, despite their longing for the usual family gathering, she added.
Amna Al-Kandari, a kindergarten teacher, said, her family used to celebrate by wearing traditional Kuwaiti dress, and then they would leave the house to participate in the street march.
Al-Kandari said, her family would still gather to observe the days this year, wearing traditional clothes and a few decorations.
Shaima Al-Kandari, a secretary at the Ministry of Electricity and Water, agreed with Amna, assuring that most Kuwaiti homes used to prepare for the National Day with traditional decorations and dresses, and family would gather around a large dining table with delicious traditional Kuwaiti food and sweets.
“We used to go to march with our children and give them the specially made Kuwaiti coloring books, unfortunately, there is no celebration this year,” Al-Kandari said. “We will organise home activities.”
Badr Al-Otaibi, a Ktech student, said, he was accustomed to hearing stories of national celebrations from his grandmother and his mother, as they used to gather to prepare for the national celebrations. This year’s celebrations will be limited to families.
Khadija Al-Rashidi, a college student, said, she would be satisfied with celebrating on the social media, by posting about the national day, as the restrictions would prevent her from having the usual celebration with the family.– NNN-KUNA
