If this sounds like BS to someone, it probably isn't. From my time in Iraq, this sounds rather spot on. They're a very spontaneous people, and if they feel they need a refresher they'll take it. I've never seen banquets spontaneously erupt anywhere else on earth. One person will decide their mood doesn't match what they're doing and will break out their lunch and the rest will see that and do the same. Often they'd just throw all the food in the middle of a circle, and they'd share and people would eat whatever they wanted from what's there. It was pretty interesting.