end of Ramadan | adventures in hijab and other wonders

Mehndi for Eid…

After a month of fasting, prayer, and recitation, follows Eid… it as an ever festive day, starting with a morning prayer that is usually held outdoors, one must traditionally arrive by foot and reciteTakbeer… Then, after prayer, comes a shower of Eid greetings, hugs, handshakes, and salaams, even those people we might not personally know receive a greeting… Men and women alike wear their best outfits, new clothes in all their shine and luster, children run around in formal clothes, and everybody takes part in the celebration… It is the perfect ending to a month-long holiday like Ramadan, a group celebration that is afterward followed by days of visiting and inviting friends and family to share food and conversation… Whole families go out and celebrate, visiting amusement parks, historic sites, museums, coffeshops, wherever they might choose to spend time together and enjoy of each other´s company… Often the celebration extends into a whole week, and families travel to visit their relatives or close friends.

I spent this past Eid in California with my parents, first we attended the morning prayer which was curiously held in a baseball stadium, it filled up with covered women, children, and men… We were not familiar with the Muslim community in San Diego, and yet we easily felt ourselves at home, surrounded by other Muslims… We spent the rest of the day wandering through the small city´s downtown district, having lunch at our favorite coffeshop and bookstore, sightseeing, and buying our Eid presents, simple things like books, a pair of shoes, a beautiful scarf… It is easy to enjoy Eid, for it is a simple celebration, yes, we might dress up in elegant and sumptuous clothes if we choose to, we can give presents, but it is not so much about getting or receiving, or showing off what your money can buy; Eid is of a simpler nature, about enjoying each other´s company, for life, family, and friends are truly a blessing we can easily take for granted…