With the Eid Al Fitr celebrations approaching, Muslims all over the world are getting ready to mark the end of Ramadan with prayers, gratitude, and various traditions. The exact date for the holiday is yet to be confirmed by the UAE’s moon-sighting committee, but it is expected to fall either on April 21 or 22. Gulf News spoke to a number of UAE residents from different cultural backgrounds who shared their particular customs for celebrating Eid.
Hiba Al Minshawi, an Egyptian special needs teacher, buys herself and her children new clothes and shoes ahead of Eid, as well as booking salon appointments for herself. On the day itself, the family wakes up early to have breakfast together before elders start giving out Eidiya, a form of celebration that involves giving out money to children and young adults. They then go out to shopping malls and usually eat out or cook seafood dishes at home.
Faisal Nathamkodan, a Kerala native living in Abu Dhabi and working as a chauffeur, communicates with his family back in Kerala through video and phone calls during Eid. He and his friends also cook a special kind of biryani, a rice-based dish with protein, as well as prepare payasam, a type of vermicelli-based pudding, and neyappam, a rice-based sweet fritter.
For Saudi expat Aziz Al Harbi, CEO of RoboStores, Eid is a time for reflection, celebration, and community. It is a time to remember the importance of faith, family, and friends, and to express gratitude for the blessings in our lives. He dresses up in new clothing, exchanges gifts with loved ones, and donates money, food, or whatever he can to the needy.
Iman Yusra Huntash, a shadow teacher from Egypt, is currently shopping for Eid clothing, gifts, cakes, desserts, and chocolates. She follows the Egyptian tradition of eating dates before going for prayer, then eating cake with tea after the prayer. For lunch, they eat herring or koshari, a rice and pasta-based dish with protein. She and her extended family visit each other over Eid, share Eidiya with the children, exchange presents, give out Zakat or alms, attend Eid prayers, visit neighbors, take walks in parks, eat out, and go out for entertainment.
Samsudeen Pilakal, an Indian chauffeur who moved to Abu Dhabi for work, celebrates Eid with his friends and roommates. He wears a festive white shirt and a traditional Indian white wrapped legging called dhoti. They make chicken biriyani as an Eid special and serve payasam.
Dr. Adel Al Sisi, Chief Medical Officer and Consultant Intensive Care Unit at Prime Hospital, says that Eid is about sharing, a celebration of the successful completion of the holy month. He teaches his children the essence of Ramadan and gifts them Eidiya to encourage them to share and be generous.
During Eid Al Fitr, Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan by taking part in numerous traditions. Prayers, special dishes, and customs become part of family’s traditions for the holiday. The UAE’s rich diversity and multicultural landscape offer a unique opportunity to witness a number of traditions.
This year, Eid Al Fitr is scheduled to be celebrated either on Friday (April 21) or Saturday (April 22) with the UAE’s moon-sighting committee set to meet and confirm the exact date on Thursday, April 20.
In conclusion, Eid Al Fitr is a time of celebration, reflection, and community for Muslims around the world. From buying new clothes to cooking special dishes, exchanging gifts, and giving out Eidiya, each family has its own unique customs for celebrating the holiday. Whether spending time with family and friends, donating to the needy, or simply taking a walk in the park, the important thing is to express gratitude and celebrate the blessings in our lives.
