For Muslims the world over, there’s no happier time than Eid al-Fitr, the annual feast that marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan.
On Eid al-Fitr, the estimated 5 million Muslims across the country-and hundreds of millions more around the world-celebrate in a major way. It’s one of the holidays on the Muslim calendar, and the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. It’s the equivalent of Christmas in the West.
Often just called Eid, it’s a tree day celebration that starts when Muslims spot a crescent moon and it commemorates the revelation of the Koran to the prophet Muhammad. Eid also marks the completion of the 29 day Ramadan fast between sunrise and sundown required of Muslims once a year and gives them an opportunity to celebrate God’s mercy.
“Making it through Ramadan is a huge accomplishment in pleasing Go,” says Aziz Junejo, a Pakistani-American in Seattle. “During Eid, there’s a real sense of bonding and community with each other.”
Based on the lunar calendar, Eid al-Fitr [pronounced idd al Fit-Ur, meaning festival of Fast-Breaking.] began on November 13 in 2004. It’s not to be confused with the other Muslim Eid holiday. Eid al-Adha. Eid al Adha means Festival of Sacrifice and commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God.
The entire month f Ramadan is giving over not just to fasting, but regular Koran reading and meditation. Every night of Ramadan when the fast is broken, it’s celebration time. In many Muslim countries, shops open all night during this month, so people can shop after breaking the fast.
Junejo, his wife and three daughters, awake every morning of Ramadan at about 4:30 a.m. for the morning meal, called suhur. After that they fast from food and drink for the entire day. When the sun goes down, they often enjoy a meal with extended family.
On the night before Eid, the festivities begin with a mehndi party The Seattle South Asian Muslim community rents out a community center and puts henna on all the women’s hands and arms to commemorate the beginning of Eid. The men put on some jasmine perfume, which they wear throughout the three days.
On the morning of Eid, the Junejos join 12,000 other Seattle Muslims at the Washington State convention Center, where they perform their prayers and listen to a khutbah, or sermon. The imam or sheik usually talks about continually being good, and the value of contributing money to the poor. In fact, there’s a special zakat, or tithe, that Muslims must give that morning.
After a few hours of greeting each other, it’s off to families homes for large meals. Women cook special meals for Eid, especially meat and fish dishes and desserts. Most Middle Eastern Muslims eat moon-shaped cakes called mamoul, filled with walnuts, pistachios, or dates. Some homes have kheer, warm milk sweetened with sugar, almonds and dates and mixed with vermicelli.
On the second and third days of Eid, the Junejos visit friends and family. And of course, everyone wears new clothes. Junejo’s daughters often will get a shalwar kameez from Pakistan, which is a long dress worn over matching pants.
Eid is a special time for children; amusement parks and movies are often parked with Muslims. ”Eid is the only time my daughters can stay out late and drink soda pop,” Junejo says.
In Irvine, California, for example, the local mosques organized a group of about 15,000 children and parents for a trip to a local amusement park and bowling alley to celebrate Eid. Children also collect eiday, a gift of money.
Across the country, Palestinian-American Rabie Hussein, in Albany, New York, traditionally journeys to Toronto to celebrate Eid with his family. Hussein says his favourite childhood memories were celebrating Eid. He’s lived in Qatar, Iraq, Jordon and Lebanon and says that celebrating Eid in the United States is vastly different than in the Middle East, where most people are Muslim.
“It’s easier for Eid to just pass by here in the States,” Hussein says. “But no matter where I am, the main thing is that we get close to our friends and families and spend tons of time with them. The more people you visit, the better you’ve done.”
Hussein notes in cities with large Muslim populations as Toronto, every Chinese Buffet is packed. He usually goes to the convention center in Toronto, where he says, “Praying with so many people is amazing. Eid prayers are physically exhausting and can go on for about thirty minutes. Afterward, he puts money in the donation boxes-which go to local mosques to help feed the poor-and buys some religious books from the gift tables.
It’s important to not that Muslims hail from all over the world, so the distinct ways they celebrate Eid differ slightly.
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