We soon found out that National Day is quite the event here. It is the day they celebrate the birth of their country, similar to the Fourth of July in the U.S. but way ramped up. This year they celebrated Thirty Seven years of the United Arab Emirates. They are not only a very young country but one of the wealthiest. with both contributing to quite the festivities. It is officially a one day Holiday, with no one working, but the celebrations go on for an almost two week period. The Muslim Calendar has two Eids a year on it. But with the calendar based on the moon (avg. 360 days per year) all of their holidays and celebrations change dates each year.
National Day is always December 2nd but this year Eid Mubarak is Dec. 8th, so with two holidays being so close everyone is celerating. All the government agencies, and over here that is a large part of the white collar work force, are closed for almost two weeks. That means the telephone company, the post office, etc.! The schools close for two weeks in the first part of December, back in for a week , and then closed two more for Christmas. Even though most Muslims don't officially celebrate Christmas half of the people who live here are from some place that does. And definitely most of the teachers. The main American school is closed the entire month of December!
There were Grand Prix motor boat races in the early part of the day but we didn't attend. We waited for the later part of the day to join all the festivities. We drove to a friends house around five and had a early dinner with them and then we all walked to the Corniche beach together. There were stages with bands and entertainment set up at different points all along the Corniche (that's the walkway along the side of the island). At the main Corniche beach they had a three hour air show, there were para gliders and para motors performing at different times, along with a laser show on Lulu Island (across the water) and at the Emirates Palace (where the Corniche ends by the breakwater). The guys got in line for ice cream from Basking Robbins (it tastes the same here) while the girls and kids went out to the beach. We happened upon a table right as a family was getting up! It was great we had a beach front seat right on a little terrace. The fireworks started at 8:30pm and made the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest fireworks to this date. I'm not sure what the criteria was to qualify but the show at two locations and lasted forty-five minutes. It was quite spectacular.
With all the events taking place you would think that would be the main attraction. Oh no! That's what all the expats and Third Country Nationals were checking out, not the Emirates. They spend the day quite creatively. They decorate their cars and drive around honking their horns in an informal parade that goes up and down the Corniche road, all five lanes the entire length, probably a good three miles. There were cars everywhere bummer to bummer revving their engines and honking. People and children hanging out of cars, standing up through sunroofs, sitting on roofs and hoods, just driving, revving engines, and honking horns. It was crazy! Words can't really describe the event. There were thousands and thousands of people just out, either participating or watching those that were. We were so thankful we walked the six blocks or so, you couldn't get anywhere close to the Corniche without being in a traffic jam and I can't imagine the parking!
Our first peak at the Corniche road.
This picture is a bit dark, but the white SUV had been decorated by spray painting the flag colors (red, green, black, and white) all over it!
There were many cars with giant Teddy Bears strapped to the top, along with balloons, flags, streamers, etc.
Our first peak at the walkway along the Corniche with the laser show behind it.
A typical sight that night!
Thousands of cars, I wish you could hear the honking!
During the winter months or when it is windy the men often wrap their headscarf around their face. It was a beautiful evening for us in the low 70's, but for those from this part of the globe that is cold. I laugh at all the children in their puffy winter coats!
The laser show on the beach. The para gliders and para motors didn't photograph well at night. There was one set that had fireworks trail out from their engines!
The fireworks were quite the spectacular event.
The red glow to the bottom left of the picture is the Emirates Palace all lit up in the National colors. After about thirty minutes the sky was filling with smoke!
The went on........
and on.......
It was quite the event and we were very happy we ventured out for it. Words can quite describe..... the sounds of people, cars, fireworks, etc., the smells of smoke from the fireworks and hot engines even on a cool night, and the sights all about. It really was a feast for the senses! We walked back in the masses to our car and were happy we were away from the traffic! The next day I talked to some people who live in apartments right on the Corniche and said that the honking went on all night long!!!
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