I read an article today on Middle East On-Line dealing with the revival of al-Zar in Egypt. This brought back suppressed memories from the late forties in al-Zagazig. Our landlady (Umm Bakr, May Allah Bless her Soul) would hold periodic Zars.

What I recall are frightening moments of the ritual (at least in my mind) of exorcising evil spirits and the cloak and dagger routine the elder members of the family will go through, when there was a Zar. I am sure my late mother (Mayy Allah Bless her Soul) went down to Umm Bakr's flat to attend the rituals, but I am not sure if other members of the family did join her.