All over the world, we mark our calendars to celebrate days, weeks, and even months that hold special meaning for us. Some are cultural, some religious, and others general celebrations. And when the year begins to draw its curtains to a close, Christmas becomes the most familiar and widely celebrated event. I grew up celebrating Christmas too, even though my family no longer attaches so much importance to that single day. But what many people do not know is that I also grew up celebrating Eid al-Fitr with my neighbours, my oldest neighbours.
For anyone who might not know, Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim celebration that marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. It is usually celebrated in the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Throughout the month leading to Eid, my neighbours fast from dawn to dusk. That is, they refrain from eating meals until the evening(6pm) of each day. This activity is often encouraged to promote discipline and communion with God. They break this daily fast every evening with a healthy meal and fruits.
During this time, they make sure to keep their hearts pure. They avoid activities considered sinful in their religion. They make peace with those who have wronged them, and refrain from using offensive words when communicating with others. This cycle continues until the night the crescent moon is sighted. The day after the sighting is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr.
On Eid morning, my Muslim neighbours greet us by saying “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Eid,” and we return the greeting in the same manner. Afterward, my siblings and I help the mother and daughter prepare the sweet dishes they plan to serve visitors for the celebration while the father and his sons get ready for the mosque in their new clothes sewn for the occasion. As we cook the meals, their mom shares stories of past Eid celebrations in their village, and those stories always create a warm bonding moment for all of us.
When the food is done, they give us a generous portion, enough to fill our pots, and my dad gifts them a live chicken and some money for their celebration. The mother and daughter then join the rest of the family at the mosque, looking just as good, in their new attire and hijab.
Their prayers at the mosque do not take long, and once they return, the whole compound begins to get filled with visitors who have come to celebrate with them. From a distance, you can already hear music playing from their flat, and when you enter through the gate, the sight of the decorated tables outside is enough to tell you a memorable Eid celebration is about to begin.
Sometimes we are introduced to their distant relatives who have come for the celebration. We often exchange pleasantries, sit together, and enjoy the event together till the end. There is always more than enough to eat and drink, and the laughter and jokes shared during this event makes community a worthy investment. Many times, the celebration stretches into the night before visitors finally journey back to their homes.
I consider it a truly beautiful experience, and it is a celebration I will always be glad to share with my neighbours.
This post is a response to this week's Ladies of hive contest prompt, where we're asked to share our experience celebrating a tradition that isn't ours.
If you'd like to share your own piece, you can start by reading the rules for entry here.
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