The Midan Journal · Featured

"I Understand Everything, I Just Answer in English": A Heritage Speaker's Guide to the Holiday Table

Late fall has a way of filling the calendar with family: Thanksgiving dinners, long weekend visits, a cousin's engagement, an aunt who calls "just to check"…

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October 21, 2026◆4 min read

Culture · Language · Table

Latest stories

Stories and practical guides on Arabic language, culture, food, and family traditions.

October 20, 2026◆3 min read

Ahlan wa Sahlan: A Friendly Guide to Diyafa (Being a Great Guest and a Gracious Host)

Arab hospitality, or diyafa, is warm, generous and full of small signals. Here's how to read them as a guest, and how to borrow them as a host.

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October 19, 2026◆3 min read

The Curious Traveler's Guide to the Arab World (Without the Clichés)

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October 18, 2026◆2 min read

The Art of the Line: A Beginner's Window into Arabic Calligraphy

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October 17, 2026◆2 min read

Yalla, Goal! What Football Fandom Teaches You About Arab Cultures

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October 16, 2026◆2 min read

Spin the Wheel: An Arab Culture Trivia Quiz (No Passport Required)

Ten fun, fair trivia questions about Arab cultures, language and food, with answers and the stories behind them. A warm-up for Midan's Passport Wheel.

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October 15, 2026◆3 min read

Screen Time, but Make It Cultural: Learning Arabic Through TV and Film

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October 14, 2026◆2 min read

Ça va, Habibi? Code-Switching Between Arabic, French and English

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October 13, 2026◆3 min read

From Umm Kulthum to Your Playlist: A Friendly Guide to Arabic Music

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October 12, 2026◆2 min read

Pour, Sip, Repeat: Coffee and Tea Rituals Across the Arab World

From cardamom gahwa in the Gulf to thick Egyptian coffee and Maghrebi mint tea poured from on high, here's how hot drinks say 'welcome' across regions.

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October 11, 2026◆3 min read

Beyond Hummus: How to Eat (and Talk) Your Way Through Arab Kitchens

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October 10, 2026◆2 min read

Zaffa, Henna and Dabke: A Guest's Guide to Arab Weddings and Celebrations

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October 9, 2026◆6 min read

Arabic Culture and Traditions: 7 Everyday Ways to Experience Them

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October 8, 2026◆2 min read

Inshallah, Yalla and Bukra fil Mishmish: Arabic Expressions That Say More Than Words

Some Arabic expressions are tiny time machines of humor and wisdom. Here are the everyday sayings and proverbs worth knowing, and how to use them warmly.

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October 7, 2026◆2 min read

Algebra, Algorithms and Optics: A Friendly Tour of the House of Wisdom

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