Eid-ul-Fitr
This is a magical time of year when families share special holidays of all kinds. Earlier we looked at the annual Jewish holiday known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. Another annual festival is the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr.
During the special month of Ramadan, (which started on November 17th in 2001 and comes roughly 15 days earlier each year because of the lunar calendar), Muslims study their holy book called the Koran. It is a time for inner reflection, prayer and good deeds.
Fasting is an important part of Ramadan. This means that no meals are eaten during daylight hours. Only a small breakfast before dawn and a dinner after dusk are allowed. Those who fast feel that they learn to be more thankful for the food they have and more sympathetic for those who are less fortunate. Ramadan ends the day after the new crescent moon appears in the night sky. Eid-ul-Fitr begins the same day. This year the date is December 16th.
The word Eid means “festivity” and Eid-ul-Fitr means “The Festival of Fast Breaking”. It is the day that marks the end of the month-long fast and is a joyous holiday that lasts for three days. It is a time of thanksgiving and of sharing good fortune and good food.
Muslims rise early on this special day and after bathing eat a sweet breakfast of dates or a light snack. If they have not already made a contribution to a charity during Ramadan, they do so on this day. They put on perfume or cologne and their very best clothes to attend a special community prayer. Happily visiting friends and relatives during the festival days, they greet each other with Eid mubarak which means “a blessed festivity”. Children and loved ones are given gifts by their parents and relatives. And of course, everyone gets together on these three festival days to share and savor the sumptuous foods that were declined during Ramadan.
For more details about Ramadan, click on Past Issues and select the December 17, 1999 issue of The Tribune.
