Muharram
The Tangled Origins of Hosay
The Shiite Islamic ritual of Muharram came to Trinidad with Indian indentured workers in the 19th century, attracting the participation of the island’s African population and becoming truly creolized, transforming into Hosay. Its story of suppression and survival is a vital record of Trinidadian culture.
Ashure: A Sometimes Rich Pudding with an Always Rich History
As a kid who grew up in a mixed Alevi and Sunni neighborhood in Malatya, I listened to all the stories related to the meaning of the ashure pudding. Before then, I just assumed that the pudding was an Alevi-specific dessert.