'The Old Neighborhood'

A Space for Nostalgia

In days of yore, those who did not live through that era but have heard about it often say, “I wish we had lived in your time, to witness your games and feats, from one alley to another.” Indeed, your memories are sweet, and the tales of old are cherished. The alleys of that time hold good memories, recounted by those who lived through those days, which are immortalized by the beautiful memories of the past in every district and neighborhood of old Kuwait, from the 1920s to the late 1970s.

Of course, each generation has its own old stories, which in its time featured certain rituals, customs, traditions, and traditional folk games. These were passed down from generation to generation, with each generation having its own way of practicing their daily routines and traditional, heritage-based games that they inherited and engaged in during their time.

The old alleys of Kuwait had traditional names, either derived from the prominent families that lived there or from the neighborhoods and residential areas (barais) that these alleys overlooked. Thus, the stories and adventures of the alleys of that time emerged.

Parents used to exercise strict supervision over their children to prevent them from going out into the alleys during midday or afternoon prayers, in accordance with the customs, traditions, and folk heritage of those days.

Today, the alleys are well-lit and safe, and the streets of the neighborhoods are paved and tiled. The alleys themselves are also paved and relatively wide. Therefore, there are no longer “dead-end alleys” (sikka sad), meaning alleys with no exit or outlet, as was common in the past. How many dead-end alleys there used to be!

We still share the stories and memories of the alleys whenever we meet friends from those golden days. Thus, our conversations are never devoid of memories and events we experienced with our relatives and friends in the alleys.

We recall the days of playing games like Al-Miqassi, Al-Hawl, Al-Shattat Al-Battat, Al-Lubayda, “Amakor fell into the oven,” Al-Awrta, Al-Anbar, and other entertaining and beloved childhood games played within the alleys of the neighborhoods.

And lest I forget the days of Ramadan and Al-Qarqeen, when we would walk across the neighborhoods on foot, carrying a basket for collecting Qarqeen treats from house to house, from alley to alley, and from neighborhood to neighborhood.

These memories cannot be erased from the pages of history’s golden era, and our memories stretch from one alley to another.

These are the alleys of old and their stories. Certainly, there are many events, situations, and tales. Given the limited space and time here, I could not recall them all. However, anyone who lived through that era will remember the alleys of old and their stories.

I wish you all the happiest moments, with memories firmly etched in your minds about the alleys, where you spent the days of yore. With warmest wishes and greetings.

A Kuwaiti writer