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ith its rituals and traditions, the arrival of Eid Al Fitr brings back the fondest memories for me as a child. On the evening of the last day of Ramadan, my family and I crowd around the TV, waiting for the Eid announcement; if the new moon was sighted, then the month of Ramadan has come to an end. If the new moon did not appear, we would fast another day until the Holy Month was officially over. As a child, it was a huge disappointment to wait yet another day for Eid, but my parents always reminded me that that extra day was an opportunity to be more giving and patient. Once the new moon is sighted, the Eid celebration and cultural rituals begin. My mother would bathe me and my siblings and dress us in our new pajamas. On the same evening, our parents would drive us to the toy store to pick out our Eid presents – it was always a joy seeing other children on a hunt for the perfect Eid toy. We would then make a detour to the bakery to buy kaakuleid (traditional baked goodies) before going home, making our last stop the charity house where our parents give zakatulfitr (an Eid Al Fitr donation) so that the poor can have a wonderful, festive Eid. On the morning of Eid Al Fitr, we wake up extra early, dress up in our new clothes, and make our way to the mosque along with our family and friends for Eid prayer. Even as a child, I found the Eid prayer a wonderful ritual, surrounded by happy people praying to one God and enjoying the fruits of out labour during the Holy Month of Ramadan. After prayer, we head to our grandparent’s place to join the Eid celebration with the whole family. This was the best part for us as children – playing with our cousins, showing off our new toys and clothes and, most importantly, receiving the eidya (Eid allowance) from our aunts and uncles. The bigger the family, the more money we scored to buy more toys and candy. By noon, we gather around the dining table to give thanks over a mouthwatering, home-cooked Eid meal. This can differ from one culture to another, but most commonly people have seafood on Eid Al Fitr.
The notes of traditional music emanate from a group of minstrels during Souq Waqif's annual Eid Festival
Traditions Of Eid By Tasbih Amin
As the month of Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims around the world bid the Holy Month a tearful goodbye and welcome the arrival of Eid Al Fitr – a day of celebration after a long month of worship and devotion. QH takes you inside one family’s traditions.
After enjoying the Eid meal with the whole family, we would go with our cousins and family friends to the amusement park to spend the rest of the day. There, we’d hop on every ride, spend our Eid allowance on candy, and enjoy the puppet show they put on-stage in every mall in town. Although Eid Al Fitr was originally celebrated on only one day, nowadays the celebration is extended for two more days so people can travel and spend more time with their family and loved ones. For us as children, that meant visiting relatives and spending time at amusement parks. Now that I’m an adult and live alone in Doha, Eid Al Fitr is a little different. I look back at these cherished memories and try to create new ones with my friends who have become my family here in Doha. After all, the essence of Eid Al Fitr is rejoicing in the acceptance of acts of worship and obedience during Ramadan, and striving to become a better, giving person. Eid Mubarak! n
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