Shortly before the holiday season set in, I went out into the street to sound the opinion of whoever passed me and whomever I passed — those I knew and those I did not — on the holiday and what it means

to them. And if my question came as a surprise to them, their answers came as a surprise to me: most of them were given on the spur of the moment, far removed indeed from the spirituality of the holiday, and yet, for all that, engaging and merry, and telling of the hopes and sorrows within their souls:

Q — What do you feel on the day of the feast? ... With this question I stopped

a friend of mine, Miss Lodi Abu Shaqra, who works as an employee in one of the companies, and after some hesitation she answered:

A — The holiday is truth and light; but I do not rejoice on the day of the feast — she added, laughing — because I feel I have grown older than I was at the last holiday.

Q — What does the holiday mean to you? With this question I came in upon Mr. Roger Jabriya in his bookshop. The smile vanished from his face, and after I had explained my purpose he said:

A — The holiday... nothing... especially for one who suffers crises of the soul. Holidays, in my view, are dangerous absurdities, in whose name morals are torn down. His younger brother was sitting beside him, so I asked him as well:

Q — Of what does the holiday remind you?

A — No, no... ask some man other than me... I am not fit for

This reportage was prepared by Miss Umayma Riz, holder of a Bachelor of Science degree from the American University of Beirut... What might this sweet girl be wishing for at the holiday?!!