Bigfootmech said:
"it is a recent tradition, only 18 years old, but it is a tradition none the less!"
Seriously, firing AK-47s into the air can only be a tradition a maximum of 63 years old, that's not exactly an 'ancient cultural folkway'. That's an absolute, absolute maximum though, it's probably more like fifty years since the AK 47 was the first mass produced and circulated assault rifle. It's predecessor was the StG 44 developed for use by SS troops and I'm guessing the nazis weren't in the habit of handing them out.
I mean, it's not religious or deeply rooted in arab culture, it's just that cretins really like loud noises when they're happy. You see it on Guy Fawkes day, you see it on the 4th of July and you see it at these weddings, the only difference is that you can get an assault rifle dirt cheap there so they use that.