FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – Part of the training soldiers receive before being deployed to Afghanistan is learning about the Afghan culture.

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On Wednesday troops were exposed to a re-enactment of the celebration called Eid Ul Fitr which means festivity.  The day is a holiday which marks the end of Ramadan.  Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar when Muslims worldwide observe a month of fasting.

The Eid includes music, dancing, games and special food.  One of the games demonstrated was egg jousting, where two people each take an egg in their fist and tap it on the opposing player’s egg to see which one cracks first.

According to Michael Dochterman, Site Director for Eagle Language Training Center, today’s re-enactment gives the deployed soldiers a chance to see how the Afghans celebrate and interact with each other.  It also gives them a chance to see and taste the different cuisine they will encounter.

The dancing part of the ceremony, according to the host can go on anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours.  Today’s ceremony included six men in traditional costumes in a circle, spinning, jumping and clapping.  We were told that it can get exhausting.



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