I have written this email about Eid to a penpal friend, and since I tried to be informative I thought why not share it here :-)Muslims celebrate two times during the Arabian year (Arabian/Islamic calendar is based on lunar months). Each one of these celebrations is called: Eid which literary means "celebration" in Arabic.
First celebration is Eid Al-Fitr. It is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month in the arabic islamic calendar. It is a celebration of successful fasting during Ramadan which is the 9th month.
Because Eid depends on the moon, at the end of 29th day, people would try to see if the new moon is born, if 2 people saw it and went to the specialized department and swore to Allah that they bare witnessed the new crescent, then Eid is declared (like what happened this year, Ramadan was only 29 days). Otherwise, the month is completed to 30 days and the next day would be Eid for sure, cause Arabian months can only be either 29days or 30 days.
Eid day starts in early morning around 5:30 or 6:00AM when speakers on masjids (mosques) would recite: Allah Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah which means: Allah is the greatest, there is no God but Allah. It goes on till it's time for Eid prayer. People then would put on their Eid clothes (any new cloth, usually celebrating like) and then everybody in the city would gather in one big square that is called (Mosalla Al-Eid) which means, the praying place for Eid, as the name suggest, this place is only opened for two days all over the year, only during the two Eids. Eid Prayer is attended by rulers and members of royal family in each city, and they usually are on the first line right after the Imam (the person who is leading the prayer), and next to them or behind them the rest of the people in the city.
Everybody capable would go there, to pray, the prayer is held and afterward a speech would be given. and when it's done, people would turn to each other and greet each other. It is very common in that place that people would greet even those who they don't know. As you know, Dubai has many nationalities, so it's common that people of different nationalities, different tongues would still greet each other "Eid Mubarak" meaning "Blessing Eid".
Then people would start visiting their relatives. Actually you might find this awkward. But this visiting is done in a very funny way hehehe. everybody visit everybody, and everybody has to eat something in each house. Morning visiting is usually done by men, for example all my uncles and male cousins would pass by our house, and when they are done they would go to the next uncle or auntie, usually each one of these visits would last`between 20 to 40 minutes in each house.
Afternoon visits usually held by ladies, so me and my sister would gather and go pass by each house of our grand relatives. And yess we have to eat something in each house. by the end of the day, you'd feel pretty much full hehehe, but it's really fun, you get to see everybody, and if somebody missed you on the morning visits, you can see them on the evening visits.
Eid is considered to be one great celebration, so it's natural that telephone networks would be very busy that it won't let your messages or calls go for sometime. SMS is something very common in Eid too, and each Eid, people invent more messages to go around, some of them are really funny others are warm and full of greetings and love.
One of the very common traditions in UAE (and many other countries too) giving money to children. This is held during all 3 days of celebration, right after morning visits of the first day. When I was a kid, all the kids of the neighborhood would gather in the morning, and then we would go knocking from door to door where the people would give us money of the eid, which is called :"Eidiyah".
At my family house we still hold this tradition of keeping money for children, and we take turns in responding to doors (since it's too many hehehe). when its my turn, I always make children sing for me LOL.. there is a very old song, that I used to sing with my cousins and friends when I was asking for Eidiyah "Atoona Eidiyah" which means "Give us the Eidiyah".
Eidiyah is also given to children of the same family, many relatives would give children money when they visit somebody's house, or being visited by someone with children. Actually, eidiyah is the the very real big amount of money children can really get at once. I used to spend my Eidiyah on alot of stuff, like buying toys or chocolate, sometimes I'd mix them with my sister's eidiyah and we can by something expensive we both wanted. Nowadays.. I have to give Eidiyyah..
One last thing on the topic. Money of Eidiyah have to be BRAND NEW LOL.. so before Eid, most of the people would go to the bank and exchange their old coins and paper money for new ones. Children wouldn't be happy if given old money (they'd still take it though LOL but they'll give you the nasty look).
As I must have mentioned somewhere, Eid is held for three days, the first day is the main Eid which most of the activities are don on, but you can still visit, call relatives or friends for the subsequent 2 days which total Eid to 3 days. In UAE, we make special food for each day.
My auntie (sister of my father) would still send our house some traditional food every first day. It's common to exchange food on Eid too.
Little girls and Ladies would decorate their hands and feet with Henna, which is a specific design done by coloring. usually fades within 3-4 weeks, Henna is a sign of celebration, so women would put it in Eid or weddings. and it's custom in my family to make new dresses for each one of the days, but usually the most expensive and best one is saved for first day.
I hope I gave you a very good idea about Eid customs in my country, I tried to cover everything. The bottom line, Eid is a happy time for family, kids and friends. It's a lovely celebration, that people living in islamic country would enjoy I think :-)
Eid Mubarak, have a very blessed day,
Buthaina
