Burning natural incense (-Bakhoor-) is a local Sudanese tradition. It is believed that the smoke chases away negativity and, besides that, it leaves a nice and comforting odour. Women here make their incense at home, using natural products, before placing it on a small dish with burning coals. It is being practised both inside and outside the house. Last night we were lucky to have one of these incense experiences while drinking tea with some men from the local authorities and university. When the tea-lady approached our table with the small ceramic dish with burning incense, the men at our table started to make hand-waving movements to receive as much smoke as possible. There seem to be many interesting thoughts about this ritual:
"If the smoke of the incense keeps floating into your direction, your mother-in-law likes you!" This, of course, is quite valuable information, since most families here live closely together. Luckily, the smoke of the incense went in all our directions, so at the end of the evening we could all go back to our houses with a relieved feeling ;) One of the unmarried man from the group smiled and pointed out that he hasn't got a mother-in-law yet.
"But", he said,
"it is definitely a comforting thought to know that my future mother-in-law will like me for sure!"
