Wahead Miyat

Last night and tonight there has been a tent outside our bedroom window.  This tent is in the same place and basically looks the same as the wedding tent we were able to enjoy a week after we arrived here.  We noticed this tent along with a sign yesterday afternoon.  We thought for sure it was going to be another wedding and we would get to enjoy the loud music all night.  As evening approached, men gathered in the tent, but no music was being played.  We concluded it was not a wedding but something else.

After dinner we went to town as usual for tea and coffee.  As our taxi driver was returning us home Andrew asked him what the tent was.  He response was "wahead miyat."  A little bit of charades followed and we left the taxi confused with no clue what it was.  Wahead is arabic for one.  Mia is arabic for 100.  We thought maybe it was someone's birthday, either a first birthday or a one hundredth birthday.

This evening we saw the tent was still up, lights still on and men still gathered.  We were definitely confused now.  Surely they do not celebrate birthdays for more than one day.  On our way home tonight, we had a taxi driver who spoke a little bit of english so I was excited that he might be able to tell us what was going on.  As we approached our apartment, Andrew asked him what was going on there.  He informed us that someone had died.  I asked him how long it would go on, he said three days.

Our first funeral/wake.  It is not what I expected.  I had expected loud wailing or something.  I have not heard any.  They just sit together.  Share a meal.  Talk.  For three days they will do this, quietly remembering the one they have lost.