Since childhood, Haj Mohammad Hadi has been accustomed to celebrating the Islamic New Year in his own special way by decorating couscous dishes with candy and dates, and a signature sugar doll in the center. This special dish is the highlight of youngsters and adults and one of the main  events marking the new Hijra year.

“The idea of candy dolls came from an Italian man in 1859 and was passed on by generations, especially craftsmen from the city of Nabeul and then it became an annual tradition,” said Hadi.

Since childhood, Haj Mohammad Hadi has been accustomed to celebrating the Islamic New Year in his own special way by decorating couscous dishes with candy and dates, and a signature sugar doll in the center. This special dish is the highlight of youngsters and adults and one of the main  events marking the new Hijra year.

“The idea of candy dolls came from an Italian man in 1859 and was passed on by generations, especially craftsmen from the city of Nabeul and then it became an annual tradition,” said Hadi.

Hadi is referring to Italians who fled their country in the mid-nineteenth century to escape judicial rulings or battles between families that resulted in cases of revenge. They settled in the north of Tunisia and brought with them agricultural talents, in addition to cooking skills.

As a result of the mixing between Tunisian and Italian families, came the addition of the candy dolls, which are prepared for the Easter celebrations in southern Italy as well as the sugared couscous served on Hijra, celebration of the migration of the Prophet Muhammad.

“No one, other than the people of this city, really understands the importance of this candy doll. It is our ancestors’ tradition that we shall pass on to our grandchildren,” said Hadi.

Not only is the sugar doll an annual tradition in the new Hijri year, it has become a craft and a source of livelihood for many families that produce the dolls.  Yet the tradition is being threatened by extremists groups who claim the dolls are offensive to Islam.

A custom from “infidels”

“These habits were invented by the infidels, and they symbolize polytheism and probably other things which we do not know,” said Abu Amer an imam in Nabeul known for his religious extremism.  He is one of the strongest opponents of the sugar bride and a strong supporter of some groups that have given themselves the right to deter people and convince them that these sugar brides contradict with the teachings of our Islamic religion.

“These habits were invented by the infidels, and they symbolize polytheism and probably other things which we do not know,” said Abu Amer an imam in Nabeul known for his religious extremism.  He is one of the strongest opponents of the sugar bride and a strong supporter of some groups that have given themselves the right to deter people and convince them that these sugar brides contradict with the teachings of our Islamic religion.

“The people of Tunisia are unfortunately following ridiculous rituals and habits which are strange to our society. If we search for their origin, we discover that these are western habits and have nothing to do with the Arabic or Islamic norms,” Amer said.

But not everyone in Nabeul agrees. “These are habits that we were practiced as means of celebrations since childhood,” said 76-year-old Mariam. ”It is not heresy as interpreted by some people who interpret Islam as they wish and allow and forbid what they like or dislike. This, in my opinion, is merely a promotion of strange and fanatical ideas and they unfortunately present them under the title of true Islamic identity.”

One  merchant asked in utter amazement: “Why should the selling of candy dolls become a taboo? We sell them and make our living and at the same time we pay tribute to our traditions. However, we do not worship them! Why do they want to spoil our joy and deprive us from preserving our customs and traditions the way we seem fit? Why do they want to deprive us of our source of livelihood in the name of religion?”

We will continue the celebrations despite everything

The streets of the city were decorated more than a week ago, despite the attempt by some hardline religious parties to spoil the people’s joy and condemn the sale of candy dolls that were considered by some groups idols that should not be sold,  bought, nor celebrated, so the new generations would not grow up on this heresy.

Hadia, another Nabeul resident said: “They cannot force us to abandon our traditions as easily as they expect. We are attached to them and proud of them. Whoever rejects these traditions is not required to celebrate them, but has no right to impose his wrong ideas on all residents.”

Signs of anger and denouncement appeared on Hadia’s face when she said: “I am not surprised that they are against the selling of candy dolls especially after they denounced the paintings exhibited in fine arts galleries in the past. They went as far as threatening painters, burning galleries, as well as attacking the shrines of the pious worshippers of Allah. Today, they are directing their attention towards customs and traditions that they consider heresy and contradict the Islamic teachings.”

Islam does not fight tradition

Sheikh Saleh Labyad, Professor of Islamic education and an Imam, commented on the extremist ideas: “Unfortunately there are some parties that are trying to instill extremist ideas in the name of religion and under the pretext of wanting to reform and guide people who deviated from the true Islamic religion, from their point of view. They charge people with infidelity and consider all those who disagree with them as disbelievers and outsiders to the nation of Prophet Muhammad  “

Sheikh Saleh Labyad said the candy dolls were not contrary to Islam. “They are nothing more than habits practiced by the people of the Nabeul city. It is a habit and not a heresy as some are trying to promote in an attempt to spread confusion in the region.”

Sheikh Saleh concluded his words by stating that “Islam does not fight people’s habits. It is a religion of ease not of rigidity, and we refuse to change the true meaning of Islam, distort it or deform its real image among Muslims and non-Muslims.”