O le avea ma se tina i Tunisia: o le molimau a Nacira

Nacira is originally from Tunisia, like her husband, her childhood sweetheart with whom she spent her summers in the suburbs of Tunis. They have two children, Eden (5 years old) and Adam (2 and a half years old). She tells us how we experience motherhood in her country.

In Tunisia, birth is a celebration!

Tunisians have big birthdays. The custom is that we sacrifice a sheep to feed our relatives, our neighbors, in short – as many people as possible. Having given birth in France, for the eldest, we waited to go back there to organize a family dinner. A move, two pregnancies and the Covid did not work in our favor. It’s been too long since we went to Tunisia… As a child, I spent the two summer months there and returned to France in tears. What pains me is that my children do not speak Arabic. We did not insist, but I admit that I regret it. When we talk to each other with my husband, they interrupt us: ” What are you saying ? “. Fortunately they recognize a lot of words, since we hope to be there soon, and I would like them to be able to communicate with the family.

Valuable customs

My mother-in-law came to live with us for 2 months when Eden was born. In Tunisia, the young childbirth rests 40 days, as tradition dictates. I found it comfortable to lean on her, even though it wasn’t easy all the time. A mother-in-law always has a say in education, and it must be accepted. Our customs endure, they have meaning and are precious. For my second, my mother-in-law having died, I did everything alone and I saw How long I missed her support. These 40 days are also marked by a ritual where relatives spend at home to meet the newborn. We then prepare the “Zrir” in pretty cups. It is a high calorie cream of sesame, nuts, almonds and honey, which restores vigor to the young mother.

In Tunisian cuisine, harissa is omnipresent

Every month, I impatiently await the arrival of my Tunisian package. The family sends us the food survival kit! Inside, there are spices (caraway, coriander), fruits (dates) and especially dried peppers, with which I make my homemade harissa. I cannot live without harissa! Pregnant, impossible to do without, even if it means having strong acid reflections. My mother-in-law would then tell me to eat raw carrot or chew gum (natural which comes from Tunisia) so as not to suffer and to be able to continue to eat spicy. I think if my kids love harissa so much too, it’s because they tasted it through breastfeeding. I breastfed Eden for two years, as it is recommended in the country, and today, I am still breastfeeding Adam. My children’s favorite dinner is “hot pasta” as they call it.

For breakfast, it’s verbena for everyone

Soon we will have our sons circumcised. It worries me, but we chose to go to a clinic in France. We will try to organize a big party in Tunis, if the sanitary conditions allow it, with musicians and a lot of people. Little boys are real kings on this day. I already know what will be at the buffet: a mutton couscous, a Tunisian tagine (made with eggs and chicken), a mechouia salad, a mountain of pastries, and of course a good pine nut tea. My children, like little Tunisians, drink green tea diluted with mint, thyme and rosemary,since they were a year and a half old. They love it because we sugar it a lot. For breakfast, it’s verbena for everyone, the one we find in our famous package sent from the country.