Celebrating In Style

I’m off home to London today and I am very excited.

Not only will it be Eid Al Fitr, the Muslim celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, but it will also be the first time I see my family in almost 10 months. For me, that’s a long time!

Eid Al Fitr is the Festival of Break-Fasting and so it is forbidden for Muslims the world over to fast on this day as it is a day of merriment and unity for the ummah (brotherhood) to mark the end of 29/30 days of fasting.

Traditionally we wake up for morning prayers on Eid then head off for the special Eid prayers which are held a little after.

Everyone wears new clothes and really dresses up for this occasion. As we enter the mosque Muslims greet each other and congratulate each other on the start of the new month.

After prayers we head home for a family breakfast. Although the family comes together most nights of Ramadan, it will be the first time in months that I will have a proper meal with my family and so it will be wonderful.

The children get gifts, normally money, and we spend the rest of the day visiting friends and family.

In some cultures or even some family traditions there are certain foods that are made for breakfast on Eid day. My uncle and close relatives in Dubai start up the barbecue from around 8.30am and feast on meat. While in Emirati tradition stews are what is on the menu.

For others slaughtering a sheep or goat and eating some of its meat and donating the rest is the special event for this day.

Whatever the tradition, Eid is always a family do.

I cannot wait to be home again