Catholic carriage driver enjoys participating in ecumenical holidays as part of her job

Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — One of the most joyous days in the Islamic calendar is Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting and almsgiving observed by Muslims. One of the ways they celebrate is going for horse carriage rides.

Eid al-Fitr, as it is more formally known, is a day of thanksgiving and celebration with friends and family with traditional food, new traditional clothing and giving gifts. 

The horse carriage rides are to cheer the children after the month of fasting, said Mona Nisar, who hosted such a celebration this year in Salt Lake City. “It is something the whole community participates in.” 

“They look forward to it and always expect it to be there,” added Salman Nisar, Mona’s son. “The rides are a tradition and something parents and children do for entertainment. The horse and carriage are really popular in Pakistan, where we are from, and we like to create the atmosphere of being back home.”

The carriage and horse were provided by Mary Beth Williams, a Saint Ambrose parishioner, who works for Carriage for Hire, a company that offers carriage rides in downtown Salt Lake City.

“I have been giving horse carriage rides for so many years for Eid al-Fitr that I have watched some of these kids grow up,” Williams said. “I’m sharing in their special holiday and it is kind of a privilege.”

Charlie, a Morgan/Percheron draft horse, assists in helping to create the atmosphere; he is the special events horse because he is calm and loves to have his picture taken, Williams said.

Horses and humans, especially the draft horse, have a partnership, said Williams. “These horses have to have a job to do, and pulling a carriage is not hard for them,” she said. “They are very well taken care of and loved.” 

Carriage for Hire also gives children from the Road Home rides in July with Santa and Mrs. Claus for Christmas in July put on by Utah Realtors, said Williams. “Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by carriage and give away backpacks and listen to the kids and their parents.”

Williams likes participating in Christmas in July because “the kids love it and the parents enjoy riding with them. Mrs. Claus and I have bonded; we sing Christmas carols with them,” she said. “It’s a big treat for these people who have some pretty rough lives. We are usually contracted for two hours and always manage to go a half hour longer because there are still kids who want to go for a ride.”

Williams became a carriage driver 10 years ago after having been a full-time mother for 20 years, she said.  “I always liked horses and had worked in Girl Scout camps in high school and college as a riding instructor. When I saw the job advertised, I thought I would at least go see the horses.” 

She had so much fun training for the job, even though it was January and the temperature was freezing, that she took the job, she said. “It blesses my soul.”

“I’m lucky, everybody who goes for a carriage ride is in a good mood,” she continued. “They are celebrating weddings, anniversaries, engagements, birthdays, vacations and holidays.”

The job is mentally healthy, Williams said. “I get to share some of the best parts of peoples’ lives with them, their special days, and I am frequently the first person after the groom who knows when the bride-to-be said ‘yes.’ I wish newly-weds ‘happy forever after,’ and I go on my way. It’s all good feelings.”