JEDDAH — Eid has drawn near and stalls for selling sweets and nuts have sprung up in all markets of the Kingdom. Owners of stalls and shops here have bedecked their stalls with lights and decorations of all colors so as to attract as many customers as possible.
The owners have prepared for the Eid season by gearing up to meet the needs of the families, with the touch of the old and new techniques as evidenced by the stalls in the courtyards in Jamea Market here.
Alaa Ilyas, one of the owners of stalls in the market, is a veteran who can be found here every Eid. He began selling sweets in stalls since he was 10 years old, and has improvised with innovations while retaining the old flavor.
He said: “I sell a variety of sweets and over the years have gone for the latest of the year and I bring new kinds of sweets every year of various shapes, tastes and flavors. I also attract customers by chanting old Eid songs that are known in Jeddah.”
Meanwhile, Osama Abdulwadood said that he prefers to sell old kinds of sweets that remind him of olden times. Their shapes, sizes and tastes are distinctive. “I prefer to sell sweets that the Hijazi society used to prefer in olden times like Al-Hulqoom and Al-Lawziyah sweets of all kinds,” he said.
Waleed Al-Subhi said: “Every year I visit these stalls to purchase Eid sweets that are still in great demand despite the availability of modern sweets imported from foreign countries.
“Many people prefer to purchase their Eid sweets from the big luxurious shops that sell the sweets arranged and wrapped in plates in an attractive fashion.
“Each plate of sweets might cost SR500. The price might even be more in some cases depending on the kind of chocolates and the various fillings. But here the sweets still exude the flavor of Eid.”
Kulthoom Seth keeps a stall to provide many kinds of Eid sweets. She makes sure that there is Ma'moul (date biscuits), date sweets (Tamriyah) of all kinds, nuts like almonds and pistachio and raisins. She said: “I'm keen to recall the beautiful past every Eid.”
