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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Is the 25th December a public and private holiday?

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punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 13:39

Local schools are certainly on holidays. But, not because they celebrate Xmas/NY, but because it's the end of the term/semester and, similar to the June/July holidays in Australia which happen to coincidentally happen to have an Eid fall in them some years. When Ramadan falls during this season (Dec/Jan) you'll see how irrelevant it is to the system (this isn't me being rude, but in Australia, for example, we have actual passport holders who are Muslim/Hindu/Jewish etc. who do not get their religious holidays, even though that is 'their country', but people come here as expatriates and expect that they should be given certain holidays as a right). Yup. School holidays here has nothing to do with Christmas - in the same way as when Ramadan falls during school holidays in Western countries it's not because that country is celebrating Ramadan

punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 13:35

Jordan also gives Dec 25 as a public (Bank) holiday Again, public affairs are secular in that country, not Islamic/Sharia

Sage & Onion30241

106

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 13:10

Jordan also gives Dec 25 as a public (Bank) holiday

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 11:44

the company iw ork for is Australian and we are getting Christmas day and boxing day off.. My husbands company is local and they are working ...

49

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 11:33

Not sure about Dubai, but all government schools in Abu Dhabi Emirate are closed for three weeks from 15 December. Nothing to do with Christmas (not surprisingly!); they have just restructured the school year to allow for more evenly-spaced breaks for students (and teachers). The school year finishes later as a result.

Al Quwatain51756

535

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 11:08

I think it is called Hamdan in Abu Dhabi It might be Sheikh Hamdan school, but anyway, without a name, we can only speculate.

Al Quwatain51756

535

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 11:05

Innocent question and i honestly do not know Why do the local schools close for this period if it isn't celebrated? 'local' schools, as in expat schools? because they follow a curriculum that takes breaks at this time. Local schools break up 15th Jan (or thereabouts, anyway it is a mid year break they get) Hi Al Quwatain As in schools for Emiratis my friend works at one and they are closed over from 15.12 to 02.01Oh really? which one is that? Just curious

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 11:04

Innocent question and i honestly do not know Why do the local schools close for this period if it isn't celebrated? 'local' schools, as in expat schools? because they follow a curriculum that takes breaks at this time. Local schools break up 15th Jan (or thereabouts, anyway it is a mid year break they get) Hi Al Quwatain As in schools for Emiratis my friend works at one and they are closed over from 15.12 to 02.01

Al Quwatain51756

535

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 11:01

Innocent question and i honestly do not know Why do the local schools close for this period if it isn't celebrated? 'local' schools, as in expat schools? because they follow a curriculum that takes breaks at this time. Local schools break up 15th Jan (or thereabouts, anyway it is a mid year break they get)

433

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 10:55

Christmas will definitely be announced as a holiday for all very shortly. And in the west we'll all get Eids, Honika, Dewali and so forth off for a big celebration! When? The mentioned countries who have Xmas holidays are secular, big difference to constitutionally Islamic. She was being VERY VERY Sarcastic!!!!

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 10:50

Christmas will definitely be announced as a holiday for all very shortly. And in the west we'll all get Eids, Honika, Dewali and so forth off for a big celebration! When? The mentioned countries who have Xmas holidays are secular, big difference to constitutionally Islamic.

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 10:45

Innocent question and i honestly do not know Why do the local schools close for this period if it isn't celebrated?

1617

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 10:28

I think it's probably more of a matter for individual companies, according to the sort of staff they have. For example, my husband was a partner in a firm that had lots of Jewish staff and clients, and they gave Jewish Holidays even though this wasn;t a national holiday in the UK. I wouldn't expect it to be declared a national holiday here and have been surprised at how high profile it is. Our office is open but I doubt there will be much activity!

870

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EW GURU

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 10:01

i wouldnt expect it to be a public holiday like uk, in the uk we dont get eid holidays or the islamic new year for example. we are happy to book time off if and when we need or want to here. my dh is still to book his day off - he had better get his skates on or i will be eating turkey without him:)

Al Quwatain51756

535

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 09:56

For most Emiratis, it is a very sad day, indeed, when residents are asking if Christmas day will be a holiday. This is one of their biggest fears, westernization has brought a lot of worry, but Christmas being a public holiday could possibly cause outrage.

845

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 22:09

DS goes to Emirates college and has to attend on Sunday as just another day.End of term exams is middle of Jan.

Muesli Bar51338

581

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 19:29

I have no problem with not having Christmas day as a public holiday and taking it as annual leave instead. We can't expect the Islamic holidays and other holidays too on top of them. oh and imagine the outrage on EW if we got all the holidays, it would be "oh i can't believe the metro is not running til 4pm it's an islamic country why is the country not running as normal etc etc" LOL! ;) <em>edited by Muesli Bar on 21/12/2011</em>

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 18:26

My husband thinks, it is not as he has nothing heard from his company yet, I think it is? Was there any announcement? of course its not a holiday if you want it off you have to take it as leave, of course some companies may be very nice to you and let you have the day off, but of course its not a holiday its a christian holiday not a uae muslim holiday.

132

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 18:12

And yet isn't New Years Day (as in Jan 1st) the Christian New Year (so many years A.D.) as opposed to the Islamic one so why a holiday here?

2725

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 17:12

No it's not a holiday, but I know New Years day is.

punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:48

Pakistan - 25th December is a public holiday for the birthday founder of Pakistan. Nothing to do with Christmas, just a co-incidence Indonesia - not very familiar with them, so cannot comment But the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan does give Christians off in this circular? http://www.ptclworkers.com/news/public-holidays-2011-government-of-pakistan-notification/ Giving Chirstian's Christmas off, doe not equal public holiday. In pakistan christians are about 1% to 1.5% of the population As the whole of Pakistan gets a public holiday on the 25th December for the founders birthday - bizarre that they are claiming to be "giving christian's a day off on christmas" when everyone's having it off anyway. How generous of them, lol <em>edited by punchbiffpow on 21/12/2011</em>

punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:36

Pakistan - 25th December is a public holiday for the birthday founder of Pakistan. Nothing to do with Christmas, just a co-incidence Indonesia - not very familiar with them, so cannot comment But the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan does give Christians off in this circular? http://www.ptclworkers.com/news/public-holidays-2011-government-of-pakistan-notification/ Giving Chirstian's Christmas off, doe not equal public holiday. In pakistan christians are about 1% to 1.5% of the population

482

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:34

No.... UAE is a MUSLIM country There are still Muslim countries that declare 25th Dec as a public holiday! Name one!! Malaysia. It's a Muslim country with 50% Muslim population but we celebrate almost all religious holidays - Eid, Wesak, Deepavali, Christmas :) Nevertheless, considering only Christmas is a public holiday in western countries, I don't find it odd that UAE don't declare Christmas as a public holiday. <em>edited by blimey on 21/12/2011</em>

punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:33

"Although Indonesia has a 90% Muslim population it is not an Islamic state. " Thanks Izzy - that demonstrates my first point re difference between muslim majorty population vs sharia. It's not a Muslim country then is it.... Country / state same thing!!! Which goes back to my original point that the UAE is a Muslim Country!!! Country/state is same thing, correct. Generally, academically, the definitions are: Muslim country - a country where the majority of the population is muslim, but the governement is not islamic/sharia Islamic country - country with an islamic/sharia government The point was that it is impossible for Christmas to be a public holiday in a sharia country, but possible for it to be a public holiday in a country where the majority of the population is muslim. As you said - indonesia is a muslim country (90% population of muslims) and it has Christmas for a public holiday.

433

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:24

"Although Indonesia has a 90% Muslim population it is not an Islamic state. " Thanks Izzy - that demonstrates my first point re difference between muslim majorty population vs sharia. It's not a Muslim country then is it.... Country / state same thing!!! Which goes back to my original point that the UAE is a Muslim Country!!!

punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:22

"Although Indonesia has a 90% Muslim population it is not an Islamic state. " Thanks Izzy - that demonstrates my first point re difference between muslim majorty population vs sharia.

433

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:14

Christmas will never be a public holiday in an islamic government/sharia country. I don't know if any muslim majority nations do, but it would not be impossible, as their rules are not based solely in islam. Definitely not possible in a sharia country. What about Pakistan or Indonesia? Just wondering. I thought they implement sharia law - but have 25th Dec (or rather the Monday after) off. Sorry OP for digressing! Although Indonesia has a 90% Muslim population it is not an Islamic state. Pakistan - 25th December is a public holiday for the birthday founder of Pakistan. Nothing to do with Christmas, just a co-incidence Indonesia - not very familiar with them, so cannot comment

punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 14:09

Christmas will never be a public holiday in an islamic government/sharia country. I don't know if any muslim majority nations do, but it would not be impossible, as their rules are not based solely in islam. Definitely not possible in a sharia country. What about Pakistan or Indonesia? Just wondering. I thought they implement sharia law - but have 25th Dec (or rather the Monday after) off. Sorry OP for digressing! Pakistan - 25th December is a public holiday for the birthday founder of Pakistan. Nothing to do with Christmas, just a co-incidence Indonesia - not very familiar with them, so cannot comment

257

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 13:43

I guess I should be glad DH is getting off xmas then. I don't know why but it never really occurred to me that he might have had to work xmas had his bosses been less understanding.

punchbiffpow51677

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 21 December 2011 - 13:34

Companies owned run by foreign countries often will have an internal day-off for their employees. I know some Australian ones who do it. But definitely not a public holiday :)

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