L U N A T A L K with Eva Moon

Night of Enchantment

June 11, 2008 on 11:25 am | In General Musing |

I don’t know if this is the right spelling: Laylet al-Tarab means “Night of Enchantment.” It refers to an Arabic custom of women’s private parties, where they let their hair down, dance, sing, eat and generally get out from under the men. So to speak. If I’ve got this all wrong, I hope someone who knows more will enlighten me.

My belly dance class had a Laylet al-Tarab last night and it was a most enjoyable evening. I came home tired, tipsy, too full of hummus and with hennaed hands:

Last night with henna paste still on.

This morning with dried henna removed.

No pictures from the party though. Women’s eyes only.

I have such mixed feelings about Middle Eastern culture. How can a culture with such transcendent dancing, music, food, and art reduce women to second class citizens and worse? So I’ll mix the pleasures of the Night of Enchantment with this outrageous send up of Saudi Arabia’s attitudes about women - a very silly song that out-Eva’s Eva Moon. I gotta wonder any lyricist who will rhyme “labia” and “Arabia” and damn, I wish I’d thought of it.

Best line:

It’s great if you’re from Mars
But not if you’re from Venus
If you wanna drive a car
You better have a penis

See more like that one:

• Too Hip to Crotch Walk
• Ashes to Ashes, Lunch to...
• I'm feeling better already
• The Day the World Changed
• 12 Signs You're at a Dive