These artists and singers perform at  community events, weddings and holiday parties on a regular basis, and other Somalis come from all over the world to see these artists perform. All of  this  contributes to the development of Somali culture in Canada.  
 

The main meal of the day is eaten at midday; morning and evening meals are lighter. People usually begin the day with a flat bread called Anjeeero, liver, toast, cereal or porridge made of millet or cornmeal. The midday meal consists of rice or noodles  with sauce and perhaps meat. Beef is less popular than goat or camel meat. In Somalia, certain cuts of meat are considered suitable for men, while others are reserved for women and children.  The evening meal is very light and might include beans, muffo (patties made of oats or corn), or a salad with more Anjeero.  Special tea is the favourite drink, but sheep, goat and camel's milk are also popular. Cow's milk is used only when the others are not available.  

Muslims are forbidden to drink alcohol and to eat pork or pork products. Even pastries make with lard are prohibited. Since Canadian supermarkets stock pork products under so many names (e.g. bacon, ham, sausage) many Somalis ask for guidance in avoiding these foods.  Although cheese is an important part of the daily diet in Somalia, many Somalis refrain from eating it in Canada because the pepsin used in most cheese factories is a pork product. Local agriculture Canada offices advise on what brands of supermarket cheese are free of pork products. Many restaurants will offer pastries, meat and dairy products which are pork free.  

If you are invited to have a meal with a Somali family, you do not have to  finish all the food on your plate. Traditionally, eating all your food implied that your host had failed in hospitality by giving you too little food, and at least one war in Somalia began this way.  Most Somalis don't take this rule so seriously, but it is certainly not impolite to leave a few bites on your plate.    

Spirituality  

Religion is very important to Somalis.  Islam and poetry have been described as the twin pillars of Somali culture. All Somalis are Muslims, followers of the Islamic religion. The Somali form of Islam is a little different from that of neighbouring countries.  Most Somalis don't belong to specific mosque or sect unless they are studying with a specific scholar .  Any Somali can pray in any mosque if found convenient.    

Somalis follow the five pillars of Islamic faith: the profession of faith, daily prayers, alms-giving, going on pilgrimage to Mecca (if possible) and fasting the month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Somalis, like many other Muslims are not able to eat any food or drink anything during daylight hours.  Although children under 15 are exempt from these rules, the rules are very strict for adults.  It would be embarrassing for a Somali to eat food during this month. What is more embarrassing is to refuse food to someone who was fasting all day.    

Holidays  

The  most important festivals of the year are religious. Two of the most important are Eid al  Fitr and Eid al adha. Eid al Fitr is the festival which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. After getting up late (about 8:00 a.m.), families get dressed up for a round of visits, and the children, in new clothes, receive gifts or money at each house. Everybody who can possibly afford it, donates money to the poor and at midday there is a special feast.  

Eid al Adha commemorates a sacrifice of Abraham. Children particularly enjoy the day. Amusement parks are set up and shops have special displays of clothes, toys and sweets. These who can afford it sacrifice any animal and give it to the poor.   

Other national holidays include June 26, which celebrates the north's Independence, and July 1, which celebrates the unification of the North  and South. In Canada the Somalian community celebrates these in conjunction with Canada Day.  

Henna  
 

GIRIIR  
 
Giriir is a game that young Somali girls and  boys play. This game can be played by two to four people. It is played on a ground with a hole and ten stones inside  it. The stones must be small enough so that they can be  moved back and forth.  The stones are called "Giriir" in this game.   

 Start with a single special rock. Using one hand,   throw the special rock up. While the special rock is in the air,  use the same hand and take some of  the other rocks out of the hole.  Then the rocks are placed     beside the  hole, and you catch the special rock that is coming down. Throw the same special rock up again and return all the other rocks, except one, back to the hole. If you leave more than one rock at the edge of the hole you will lose your turn and the other person will start the game from where you left off. If you don't lose, you continue playing the game -- you must take out and put back the last rock three times. When it is finished, everybody counts their stones. If you have less than five stones, the person who has more than five will punish you by hitting your fingers lightly a number of times, that being equal to the amount of the stones that you are missing.   

This is a very simple but popular game in  Somalia. It is played more by girls than boys. It is one of many simple games that Somali children play during their free time. Below are some pictures that illustrate how Giriir is played, from left top to right bottom.