Novel an: January 1 holiday in Saudi Arabia

As if to put an end to the eternal debate about whether a Muslim should celebrate January 1, Saudi Arabia marked the transition to 2023 grandly.

For this transition to the year 2023, several cities in the Kingdom organized a wide variety of events including fireworks, gala dinners and live music. In Riyadh the capital, the iconic Faisaliah building crackled with a thousand fireworks when midnight struck, the hour symbolizing the transition to the new year.

Whether in Jeddah or other lesser known cities, sumptuous dinners have been offered by restaurants and hotels to attract Saudis who are increasingly open to worldly pleasures. In addition to these activities, music concerts were organized with the participation of big names in Arab music, as Nancy Ajram, Elissa, Asala Nasri, Najwa Karam, Angham, Latifa, Nawal al-Zoghbi, know rebai, Wael Kfoury, Assi el-Hallani, East Sultan et Walid Tawfeek.

Ultra conservative kingdom and highest authority of Islam, all eyes are on Saudi Arabia whose policies have a great influence on the practice of religion. Long remained on the sidelines of the New Year celebrations of the Gregorian calendar, the country has, for the first time, joins the rest of the world on January 1 2020, without declaring this holiday date.

Previously, the Saudis were not allowed to celebrate the new year on this date. The high committee of ulama ensured that no festivities took place throughout the kingdom, January 1 does not correspond to the Hijri calendar followed by Islam. To enforce this fatwa – or religious decree, religious police, responsible for good morals, had the job of monitoring traders who were prohibited from selling any item related to the New Year.

With the arrival in business of Crown Prince Mohamed Ben Salmane known as MBS, the situation has changed radically. great reformer, he is determined to bring his kingdom into the era of modernity. Effectively ruling the kingdom in place of his weakened father, MBS had launched in 2017 to entrepreneurs in Riyadh: “we want to live a normal life; everything we do, it's back to what we were, moderate islam, open to all religions and the world.”

Before Saudi Arabia joined the movement, most Muslim countries already celebrated the Gregorian New Year. So, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and many others have always held protests marking January 1. But the golden palm of these festivities goes to the United Arab Emirates with mega fireworks in Dubai.

Even though not all countries in the world follow the Gregorian calendar, the latter has become universal, the 12 months it includes having become a reference both internationally and to mark certain local dates. Refusing to celebrate January 1st is a personal right but it cannot be justified by religion, the governments of the most conservative Arab countries having finally authorized the event.

Abderrahman Toure