Ramazan is the holiest month of the year, and we are sure you all are fasting, praying and, above all, being good....
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Ramazan is the holiest month of the year, and we are sure you all are fasting, praying and, above all, being good. And, of course, you are waiting for Eid-ul-Fitr, which is just around the corner now. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on first Shawwal, which is the 10th month in the Islamic calendar. The three-day Eid holiday we receive is something we anticipate throughout Ramazan, as Eid-ul-Fitr is a festive occasion for us all. It is celebrated by Muslims with their own cultural traditions and practices that vary from country to country. Us takes a look…
Pakistanis go all out to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, and the Eid celebrations take off on chand raat (the night before Eid). As soon as the Shawwal moon is sighted women - young and old - throng to the beauty salons to get henna applied on their hands. Beauty salons do a roaring business, as do the eateries with their Eid deals. On chand raat, malls and shops typically remain open till the wee hours of the morning, so that people can do their last minute Eid shopping.
On Eid Day, people dress up, eat themselves sick, and exchange Eidi and presents. Most people go to sleep after Eid prayers, and lunch is taken as late as 3pm! Eid lunches and dinners are grand occassions and a lot of hard work goes into preparing the traditional sheer khurma, biryani or pulao, qorma, etc.
A beautiful tradition of ours is to visit senior family members after Eid prayers to offer ‘Eid ka salam’. Guys, for this salam, usually the reward is Eidi! So do make the effort of staying awake and accompany your parents when they go to the houses of their old relatives.
Emiratis celebrate Eid by spending time with family, and eating their traditional food, and all those non-Emiratis who can, fly to their home countries. Emiratis have a tradition of hanging beautiful rugs and banners outside their houses. Applying henna is also very popular among women.
The Eid celebrations are also known as Ramazan Bayrami (Ramazan festival) or Seker Bayrami (sugar festival) in Turkey. Throughout the festivities, people enjoy traditional sweets like baklava and Turkish delights. A tradition that is respected across Turkey is the honouring of elders. Kissing an elderly family member’s right hand and placing it on your forehead while saying Bayram greetings is the utmost form of respect there. Many Turks flock to the beach during the Eid-ul–Fitr holiday! They relax with families by enjoying fun-filled activities like fishing and swimming.
Now, this is a tricky one! Ramazan in Iceland is like nowhere else in the world, and the Eid celebrations are just as unique. The country’s midnight sun phenomenon means that during Ramazan, many Muslims fast for up to 22 hours a day. They do, however, have the choice to break their fast based on the timings of sunrise and sunset from the nearest country, or of Saudi Arabia, but many people wait for the Sun breaks above the Icelandic horizon. The long fasting hours mean that when Eid ul-Fitr comes along, the celebrations are joyous. The festivities take place in one of the few mosques in Reykjavik, and guests come with food inspired by Indonesian, Egyptian and Eritrean cuisines to celebrate this holy day.
During Eid-ul-Fitr, Morocco’s colourful culinary dishes take centre stage. Where other countries focus on gift giving, Moroccans enjoy with food after morning prayers. Lamb, couscous and prunes feature in meals throughout the day, followed by traditional cookies and pastries.
In Indonesia, Eid traditions revolve around family and loved ones. It is customary for people to seek forgiveness from elders and family members during Eid. This is known as mohon maaf lahir dan batin. People celebrate by travelling to their family homes to celebrate Lebaran (Eid-ul-Fitr) with their families. Children receive eidi in colourful envelopes from relatives, families visit the graves of loved ones. Indonesian wear colourful cultural clothes. Lapis legit (thousand layer cake) is a staple for Eid family gatherings and symbolises the sweet, rich layers of life. Ketupat (a type of rice cake), opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk), and rendang (a spicy meat dish) are prepared for Eid feasts. Another beautiful tradition here is the torch and lantern parade to celebrate Eid.
Night before Eid, people gather in Islamic centres where women get henna on their palms and do shopping in the Eid bazzars at mosque premises. In the morning, families head to their mosques for their Eid prayers. Before the prayers, they give zakat-ul–fitr. Every adult Muslim is encouraged to donate their excess food and provide alms to those who are in need. The festivities truly begin after morning prayers as people go about visiting their family and friends. Special Eid lunches and dinners are planned on weekends, as there are no off days on Eid.
One of the highlights of the Eid-ul–Fitr celebrations in Singapore is the explosion of colors lighting up the Geylang Serai area. One of Singapore’s oldest Malay settlements, Geylang Serai has been the center of Eid celebrations for Muslims living in Singapore.
In Egypt, Eid-ul–Fitr, people visit older family members after Eid prayers at the mosque, and children get eidi. Egyptian families prepare special dishes for Eid, such as kahk (traditional cookies), fattah (a dish made of rice, meat, and bread), and qatayef (sweet stuffed pancakes).
Many Egyptians flock to public gardens and zoos to celebrate the occasion. Giza Zoo is one of the most popular locations for families, with the zoo planning ahead for Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.
Like everywhere else, Saudi families prepare for Eid by cleaning their homes thoroughly and decorate them with lights and ornaments. People offer Eid prayers in large open areas or mosques. Families and friends visit each other, share meals, and give gifts, especially to children. Special traditional dishes kabsa (a rice and meat dish), mandi (a traditional Yemeni rice dish), and various sweets and desserts are a part of Eid festivities.
Malaysia
Malaysians start preparing for Eid by cleaning their homes and buying new clothes. They also prepare traditional foods and sweets for the celebrations. Eid prayer is an important part of the celebration in Malaysia. People congregate for Eid prayers at mosques or in large open spaces.
Malaysians have a tradition of hosting open houses during Eid, where friends, neighbours, and even strangers are invited to visit and share a meal. Malaysian families prepare a variety of dishes for Eid, including ketupat and rendang, and various sweets and desserts.
In Iran, preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr include cleaning the home, buying new clothes, and preparing special foods. Iranians attend the Eid prayer in mosques or in large open spaces. The prayer is followed by a sermon, and people greet each other with Eid Mobarak. It is customary to visit the graves of loved ones during Eid and to pay respects to the deceased. Iranian families prepare a variety of dishes for Eid, including shir berenj (a sweet rice pudding), kuku sabzi (an herb frittata), and various sweets and desserts.
In Bangladesh, preparations for Eid ul-Fitr include buying new clothes, and preparing special foods. People flock to mosques for Eid prayers and greet each other Eid Mubarak, and visit the homes of relatives.
Eid in Iraq is a vibrant and happy occasion. People visit mosques, listen to Eid sermons and give charity. Families get together to celebrate, and enjoy scrumptious food. Date cookies called kleicha are prepared by almost all Iraqi families. Another important Eid tradition in Iraq, which exists in most cultures, is the Eidia.
Eid is also known as Eid ul-Fitrin in Tunisia. Tunisian Muslims celebrate the entire three – or even four - days of Eid as official holidays. Many Tunisians start Eid preparation even before it officially starts. Tunisians share traditional biscuits called Baklawa and different types of cakes called Kaak with their friends, relatives, and neighbors starting on the first day of Eid. Men attend Eid prayersr in the mosque. Usually, children get new clothes and toys for Eid. At noon, people visit their parents’ houses for a large family gathering and have lunch together. Most Tunisian spend their Eid evening with families.
Nigeria
Eid in Nigeria lasts about two days: many Nigerians travel to their hometown to meet relatives when it overlaps with a weekend, and enjoy their traditional food. They also enjoy their meals with their neighbours. One unique thing about Eid in Nigeria is that Christians also actively participate in celebration with Muslims. Eid is also known as “Small Salah,” and Nigerians bless each other with the greetings Barka Da Sallah, which means greetings on Sallah in the Hausa language).
