Today is the last day of the month of Ramadan (رمضان), the best and most important month for Muslims. At the end of the holy month of fasting (الصوم) and worship (العبادة), Muslims have a special feast called (عيد الفطر). It marks the end of Ramadan and lasts for 3 days. It starts on the first day of Shawwal (شوال), and lasts until day 3.
The Eid is celebrated in many ways. It has special ceremonies, most importantly the Eid prayer (صلاة العيد) which is a special prayer on the morning of the first day of the feast. It includes a religious speech that usually deals with the merits of the month of Ramadan and the joy of the feast. This prayer ends in special loud prayer to praise God called (تكبيرة العيد), shown in the link below.
Another special tradition for the feast is to give money and food to the poor (زكاة العيد). This must be given before the end of the first day of the feast to make sure that everyone share and enjoy the feast.
The feast has social traditions, as family members visit each other and exchange presents and children are given money (العيدية) to buy presents of their choice. Young people enjoy this occasion very much. Most young people get new clothes for the feast, and they wear them on the first day. They go out together and enjoy themselves. Cinemas show new movies and television stations broadcast special programs.
As for food, mothers bake all sorts of lovely biscuits and cookies (كعك العيد). There is nothing like mother’s home-made biscuits with warm tea for breakfast on the first day of the feast. My mother has baked 3 varieties for me this year, and they are absolutely delicious! I can’t wait for tomorrow morning!
