Growing up in Arkansas, people always questioned how it felt to not celebrate Christmas. I always told them that I had my own type of Christmas: Eid.
Eid is a holiday where Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan. This holiday is typically celebrated for three days, but the first day is the most important. Muslims feast on this day and host parties for their friends and family. Every morning of Eid, there is a special prayer (namaz) at the mosque to give thanks to Allah (God), for giving us this month of spirituality.
The day of Eid has a special place in my heart. It is the one day where I can forget about my troubles and truly feel happy. I’ve always felt an inner peace during Eid due to the gratefulness I feel being able to eat during the day again and spend time with my friends and family. As much as I cherish these memories, I also realize how much I take eating and drinking water throughout the day for granted and the importance of giving back.
Since I can remember, my family has always had special traditions during Eid. My favorite one is after everyone in my family wakes up early for Eid prayer at the mosque, we always come home to my favorite meal for brunch: Kitchari and Keema — specifically made by my grandma. Kitchari is a yellow rice with spices and Kheema is ground beef filled with various South Asian spices. My grandma loves to cook, so she makes sure that our kitchen is filled with home-cooked pastries, meals and desserts during this time.
Another favorite tradition of mine is dressing up. During Ramdan, I usually feel tired and exhausted throughout the day, but Eid is the complete opposite. I enjoy waking up before sunrise, putting makeup on and wearing my best clothing. I love to meet others who share the same love for Eid. It’s always a bonus to receive Eidi, which is a form of money that your elders give you; I can buy all my cherished items.
My family always makes it a big deal to decorate our house as well. We make sure to have signs that read “Eid Mubarak” and hang lights along our staircases. Having my house so festive only makes Eid even more exciting.
As Eid approaches, I can’t wait to celebrate it with all my family members once again. I hope to eat delicious food until I feel sick and spend every minute laughing with my loved ones. I will forever be thankful to have a family who makes every year so special and allows me to enjoy this day in all of its glory.
