II
Among the ancient Arabs, being nomads, Harvest and Vintage festivals did not, of course, exist. But among their descendants a festival of another kind at which a dance of, at any rate, a quasi-religious character is performed may be mentioned here; for there can be no doubt that in these things modern usage represents a custom which has been handed down through the generations from the distant past. At circumcision festivals (Muzzayîn)[247] they perform what are called Daḥa dances. The young people gather together, being invited by the fathers of the children to be circumcised, and perform these dances, during which they sing over and over again:
We will protect you
From him who cuts (‘enda-l-Ḳatta’)
We will protect you.
Cut, oh Cutter!
Yet hurt not [here, in turn, the names of those who
are to be circumcised are uttered],
Cut, oh Cutter!
Beware of the reed (ʿala-l-Ḳaṣab),
Oh my darling,
Beware of the reed![248]
Dancing at circumcisions is indispensable among the peasants in Palestine[249]; it has been observed also in many other parts of the world, e.g. among the Bambaras of Senegambia[250].
In Gen. xxi. 4, where the circumcision of Isaac is recorded, there is no mention of the circumcision feast and the accompanying dance, which, judging from later usage, always took place; but in verse 8 it says: “... And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.” The Rabbis of later times inferred that just as there was a feast at the weaning there must also have been a feast at the circumcision, and no doubt they were right. In Pirḳe de Rabbi Eliezer we read in reference to this passage (Gen. xxi. 4): “The sages said: A man is bound to make festivities and a banquet on that day when he has the merit of having his son circumcised, like Abraham our Father, who circumcised his son, as it is said...[251].” That dancing formed an indispensable element at such feasts, as among other peoples who practised this rite, hardly admits of doubt[252]. In most cases, though not in all, there enters in a distinctly religious note.
There is also dancing at the festivities attending the performance of vows[253].