What Is Gargee'an?

It is a traditional celebration in the Gulf countries. The word Gargee‘an comes from the rattling sound of nuts and sweets. The celebration is held on the evening and the day of mid-Ramadan. Children wear traditional clothing: boys wear a thobe and a vest, while girls wear 'Bukhnaq,' a headscarf that covers the head, neck, and chest, embroidered with sequins and gold or silver thread.

The "Gargee’an" celebration begins after Maghrib prayer, when children gather in groups and set out with cloth or plastic bags, or woven palm baskets, hanging from their necks. As they walk, they chant traditional rhymes and songs drawn from local heritage, going from house to house and sometimes into neighboring districts, where residents give them nuts, candy, cookies, chocolate, and other favorite treats.