KARACHI: Professor Inayatdin skillfully plays the piano as his daughter, Dr. Jennifer Maqbool, leads the family into singing a melodious Christmas carol. A Christmas tree adorned with decorations, bright lights throughout the house, and singing voices ensures there’s plenty of Christmas festivity in the air at this Karachi house.
Every year, millions of Christians around the world mark December 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ, whom they believe to be the son of God and savior of humanity. For centuries, Christians have celebrated the event by getting together with friends and families, exchanging gifts, and cooking sumptuous meals.
Dr. Maqbool’s home in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi is no different.
“Love and peace and mankind; this is the message of Christmas,” Dr. Maqbool told Arab News. “And we are celebrating it here with fervor in Pakistan,” she added, placing an unbaked cake into her oven.
In the other room, children decorate the house with bright lights and vibrant decorations as Dr. Maqbool makes her way to the heart of the home – the kitchen – where the sweet aroma of Christmas awaits.
“Pakistanis enjoy Christmas very much. Christmas programs and the Christmas season start for us from the end of November,” Dr. Maqbool explained.
Pakistan is home to 2.63 million Christians, the third-largest religious community in the predominantly Muslim South Asian country. Pakistan’s Christian community starts preparing for the festive event before December begins.
These preparations, Dr. Maqbool said, include making snacks, baking cakes, buying Christmas gifts for friends and relatives, and organizing church plays, dramas, bonfires and carol parties.
“All this is a part of Christmas,” she said, smiling.
While the adults look forward to the mouth-watering dishes and desserts, the children’s minds are preoccupied with something else.
“The children have already written letters to Santa Claus for the gifts they want,” Dr. Maqbool said.
“And if they have been good, Santa Claus will be bringing gifts and hiding them in the house somewhere. And he will leave clues and they will then find their gifts.”
Mishal Munawar, one of the children and Dr. Maqbool’s relative, said she was decorating the Christmas tree in the house.
“The Christmas tree is very mandatory,” Munawar told Arab News. “We put lights, bells, gifts, toffees, and a small Santa Claus, and flowers.”
Sigil Shafiq is one of Dr. Maqbool’s many family friends who take part in the festivities a day before Christmas.
“We love to put on festive clothes,” Shafiq told Arab News. “We usually like to get bright colors for Christmas like red and blue and green. And we like to buy bangles and dangly earrings and we like to put henna,” she added.
Shafiq said they spend time getting ready for Christmas by visiting beauty parlors and getting facials.
“It’s a good time. We have fun doing it,” she said.
For Dr. Maqbool and other Christians around the world, Christmas brings with it friends and family members from far and wide.
“All my sisters lovingly come all the way from Dubai, from Australia, [and] from Canada. We have a big gathering in our house,” she said.
With only a day left before Christmas, excitement hangs heavy in the house. And Dr. Maqbool is quite pleased with all that has been achieved so far.
“A Merry Christmas to everybody from Pakistan, my beloved homeland my beloved country,” she said.
Lights, carols, and decorations: In Karachi, a Christian family’s home comes alive every Christmas
https://arab.news/pk7as
Lights, carols, and decorations: In Karachi, a Christian family’s home comes alive every Christmas
- At Dr. Jennifer Maqbool’s house, Christmas celebrations involve singing carols, cooking up sumptuous meals, and plenty of decorations
- Millions of Christians around the world celebrate December 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ, whom they consider the savior of humanity
Gulf Theater Festival in Riyadh revives tradition, fosters regional cultural exchange
- For the first time since 1988, the festival is being hosted in Saudi Arabia, celebrating a rich legacy of Gulf theatrical collaboration
- Event, running from Sept. 10 to 17, brings together artists, performers, and cultural figures from across the Gulf Cooperation Council nations to promote regional artistic exchange
RIYADH: The 14th Gulf Theater Festival kicked off in Riyadh, marking a grand return after an eight-year hiatus.
For the first time since 1988, the festival is being hosted in Saudi Arabia, celebrating a rich legacy of Gulf theatrical collaboration.
The event, running from Sept. 10 to 17, brings together artists, performers, and cultural figures from across the Gulf Cooperation Council nations to promote regional artistic exchange.
Held at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Theater, the festival commenced with an opening ceremony that featured prominent figures from the Gulf and Arab theater scenes.
As part of the proceedings, the festival will include a series of competitive theatrical performances, workshops, and discussions aimed at enhancing production and collaboration.
The event also honors creative minds, recognizing their contributions to the art form with a series of awards.
Speaking on behalf of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Sultan Al-Bazie, CEO of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, highlighted the festival’s significance.
“The festival is a night of Gulf culture, celebrating theater as a platform for creativity that has enriched cultural memory and fostered collaboration between our sister nations,” he said.
Al-Bazie also emphasized the support the cultural sectors receive from Saudi Arabia’s leadership, noting that the festival reflects the Kingdom’s vision for advancing the Gulf theater scene.
“The event aligns with our commitment to creating a thriving Gulf cultural landscape that enhances national identity, encourages dialogue with the world, and boosts the economic sustainability of the arts,” he added.
In an exclusive comment to Arab News, Al-Bazie shared his hopes for the future of the festival.
He said: “The festival returns after an absence of eight years and is held periodically among the GCC countries.
“It will continue to grow stronger and greater and evolve into institutional work to promote aid, theatrical production, training, and joint efforts. These are all hopes we aim to achieve in the coming years.”
With its rich blend of performances, lectures, and cultural exchange, the Gulf Theater Festival is expected to solidify Riyadh’s role as a central hub for regional artistic collaboration.
The event not only revives long-standing traditions but also paves the way for a more sustainable and dynamic future for Gulf theater.
‘I Am Georgina’ highlights Saudi Arabia in first trailer for season three
DUBAI: After two successful seasons, “Soy Georgina” (“I Am Georgina”) is set to return to Netflix with a third season on Sept. 18 that highlights star Georgina Rodriguez's life in Saudi Arabia, according to a trailer dropped by the streaming giant today.
The new season will give a peek inside power couple Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo’s luxurious new life in Saudi Arabia, a move that took place in Dec. 2022 when the Portuguese football legend signed with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
The trailer begins with shots of Rodriguez in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s historic UNESCO heritage site, as she poses in front of the Instagram-famous mirrored Maraya Concert Hall.
There is a strong focus on her long-term partnership with Ronaldo as she’s seen supporting from the stands at various football matches.
The trailer also briefly spotlights Rodriguez and her family – including the couple’s children and her stepson Cristiano Jr. – at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort in Saudi Arabia.
Light-hearted moments show the family spending time at the dinner table at their Saudi home, laughing and making conversation.
The trailer also prominently features Rodriguez at Paris Fashion Week, waiting nervously backstage as she gets ready to walk the runway for Swiss fashion label Vetements.
Lindsay Lohan, part-Arab models stun at Michael Kors show
DUBAI: Dubai-based Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan was spotted at the Michael Kors show during New York Fashion Week, where she watched part-Arab models Nora Attal and Loli Bahia walk the runway.
Lohan wore a sleek silver satin slip dress paired with a long grey coat featuring a fur collar. She kept her look minimal with subtle jewelry and straight, flowing hair.
The show took place in a cavernous space in midtown, with stark metal benches lining the rectangular walls. Gigantic faux black rocks were scattered throughout the center and sides of the venue, similar to the rocky beaches of the Amalfi Coast. The dramatic Italian cliffs in an urban setting played into Kors’ abstract inspiration.
Lohan watched as the Arab models graced the runway. Attal wore a strapless black lace midi dress with a deep sweetheart neckline and a small center cutout, accentuated by a belted waist that added structure to the silhouette.
Meanwhile, Bahia was seen in a tailored black ensemble, featuring a sharp blazer with a plunging neckline and high-waisted shorts, cinched at the waist with a thin black belt for a sleek, minimalist look.
For this collection Kors told The Associated Press that he was “glued” to pop culture and was especially fascinated by the recent Netflix series “Ripley,” based on Patricia Highsmith’s classic novel, “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” The dark story is set in coastal Italy where a man who covets a friend’s wealthy life kills him and takes over his identity, killing anyone else who threatens his new persona.
“There’s lots of texture, black raffia, white embroideries. Everything is very tactile,” Kors explained. “It’s all the colors that you would find in the Mediterranean. So all of the natural colors have very soft browns and creams. And then of course, there’s going to be blue.”
The brand’s craftsmanship was on display with intricate peekaboo lace dresses and skirts and several dresses, skirts and coats adorned with flower appliqué. Accessories stood out in the collection with leather handbags, hats and shoes teeming with black raffia that looked like leather straw. The ever-present trench coat appeared for men and women on the runway, mostly oversized and slouchy, AP noted.
Saudi box office sells 8.5 million tickets in first half of 2024 with two Saudi films in top three
DUBAI: The burgeoning Saudi film industry is going from strength to strength.
On Tuesday, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla, took to X to reveal that the Saudi box office has made SAR 421.8 million ($112,410,096) in the first half of 2024, adding that two of the three leading films were Saudi-produced. He did not reveal the names of the two films.
سوق صناعة السينما مزدهرة، حيث وصلت مبيعات شباك التذاكر السعودي إلى 8.5 مليون تذكرة بإيرادات تجاوزت 421.8 مليون ريال خلال النصف الأول من العام الحالي، وفيلمان سعوديان ضمن أعلى 3 أفلام مبيعاً. #رؤية_السعودية_2030
— بدر بن عبدالله بن فرحان آل سعود (@BadrFAlSaud) September 10, 2024
Saudi box office sales have reached 8.5 million tickets with… https://t.co/joTkWZOAm4
“Saudi box office sales have reached 8.5 million tickets with revenues exceeding 421.8m SAR during the first half of 2024. Two of the best-selling films amongst the top 3 are Saudi #SaudiVision20230,” he wrote.
Saudi Arabia’s cinema scene has been booming since lifting its 35-year ban in 2018. With 66 theaters across 22 cities and box office sales reaching $919 million in 2023 (up 25% from 2022), the industry is growing at a rapid pace.
While Hollywood films like Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Tom Cruise-starring “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” have contributed to ticket sales, Saudi films have also been making a mark.
Saudi filmmaker Ali Kalthami’s Riyadh-based thriller “Mandoob” (“Night Courier”) has been a success since it was released at the beginning of 2024, soaring to the top of the Saudi box office following its screening at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah. The film tells the story of Fahad, who, after getting fired from a call centre, takes a job as a night courier who illegally sells alcohol in order to save his ailing father.
“Sattar,” the Saudi Arabian family comedy about a depressed man who follows his dreams of becoming a freestyle wrestling champion, smashed box office records last year, earning $2.2 million over its first 12 days, instantly making it the highest-grossing Saudi movie of all time, so far.
New partnership to conserve AlUla’s cultural heritage
- National Archives will work with the commission in four broad areas: training and scientific exchange, archival research, public programming, and digitization
- Abeer Al-Akel: Our partnership with the National Archives exemplifies the power of international collaboration
JEDDAH: The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a partnership agreement with the UK National Archives in line with the commission’s goals of cultural heritage preservation, international collaboration, and contribution to Vision 2030.
Through its expertise in archival management and historical documentation, the National Archives will work with the commission in four broad areas: training and scientific exchange, archival research, public programming, and digitization. Specific initiatives will focus on joint research projects, digital archive initiatives, and cultural exhibitions.
Abeer Al-Akel, acting CEO of the commission, said: “RCU’s campaign of comprehensive regeneration is transforming AlUla into a global hub for heritage and culture — and an extraordinary location for residents and visitors. Our commitment to conservation supports Vision 2030’s goal of promoting Saudi culture through initiatives that are ‘powered by the past, reimagined for the future.’
“Our partnership with the National Archives exemplifies the power of international collaboration, combining expertise and resources from Saudi Arabia and the UK to enhance cultural heritage research and public programming.”
Saul Nasse, chief executive and keeper of the National Archives, said: “Working with the Royal Commission for AlUla is an opportunity to share our pioneering work in documenting and safeguarding heritage. RCU has an ambitious strategy to preserve the rich stories of northwest Arabia, and we look forward to contributing our insights and experience.”
Through this collaboration, RCU and the National Archives aim to enhance the visibility of Saudi documentary heritage and strengthen the capacity of local archives to provide wide access to these invaluable resources, further solidifying AlUla’s position as a global hub for cultural preservation and exploration.
