Hari Raya Eid Adilfitri
(Happy Festive Break Fast Day)
After a month of fasting, our Muslim friends broke their fast this past October 1st. We were lucky to be invited to a friend's home (Alias - a guy I work with) for their Open House.
We enjoy Ramadan here. If you know when to drive the streets are quite empty. If you don't know when to drive, they are crammed twice as much as usual with very hungry Muslims.
The fast is held during daylight hours only. During the late afternoon people are rushing to get to a restaurant, get their food ordered, and sitting in front of them awaiting the prayer call signalling sundown. It's announced over the radio even, incase you can't hear the local mosque call it out.
For breakfast they rise extra early to prepare a large meal -to see them through the day. They also eat special dates that are rich in iron, vitamins and such that help to sustain them.
From a website, here are some things they should do on the last day of the fast.
1. Take a hair cut (men only!). (I suppose women don't need to as they always keep their hair covered. No need to look 'fresh' when you're sweating under a scarf!)
2. Brush ones teeth. (always a good idea)
3. Clip ones nails.
4. To take a bath (make Ghusl) (VERY recommended)
5. To wear new clothes or clean clothes. (This is a cool thing. Chinese do this at their New Year, and Christians do this at Easter.)
6. To apply perfume. (Nice)
7. To perform Fajr at a local mosque.
8. To be quick in Eid Ghah. (This means get to the mosque quickly)
9. To pay Fitra.
10. To eat odd numbers of dates before going to Eid Ghah or to eat something sweet. (Odd numbers, because even numbers will upset your tummy? :) )
11. To go to Eid Ghah one route and come back home another. (Not a problem here, as you RARELY go to and from the same way. MANY one-way streets.
Alias has 3 daughters. The eldest daughter in the pink scarf is married. She met her husband at the University of Michigan. Yep, Michigan! She and her husband (in the pink in the back) were very nice, to talk to and visit with. Here's a pic of Alias' family and ours.
Here are the eats.
Top pic on left: Beef rendang, chicken rendang, Chicken satay (on a stick) and other stuff.
Top right pic: Snacks. Kinda like our Christmas cookies. Banana chips - not sweet, but savory! Something like Italian wedding cookies, pinapple tarts and other stuff.
Pic on bottom: Lemang. Rice cooked in banana-leaf-lined bamboo, smoked near fire, turned for several hours. Yum! Really! The green stuff that looks like peels on the outside is the banana leaf.
Our kids are so great at entertaining themselves at these cultural events. Here's Benjamin doing a Get Smart move. Then Casey and Ben watching TV. Casey looks thrilled. Ben just needs a drink and he's happy!
We live near a mosque, so I thought I would record what we hear 5 times a day. This is part of our front yard and driveway. This was recorded last week. Yes, no crisp fall colors here. It's still summer!
Sources
3 comments:
Tracy, I can remember what it smelled and felt like when we got out of our Taxi in front of your house. I actually miss it. It was such a fun adventure for our family. Summer sounds great right now we just got our first snow storm this weekend. Way too cold for me already.
You got snow!!!!!!!!!!! No fair, well okay, it's fair. I worked on my tan last week during the holidays. :)
Of course you remember the smells! You're preggers! It's all about smells!
Take care of your self!
That is so neat. Your family will have many unique memories. :)
Post a Comment