At the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and charity, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a holiday marked by community gatherings and reflection on the past month while preparing for the future.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a month that teaches Muslims self-discipline and allows them to reflect on themselves. The holiday of Eid Al-Fitr allows them to celebrate the conclusion of fasting, while also expressing gratitude towards God and spending time with loved ones.
The holiday is celebrated worldwide, especially in Muslim-majority countries, but the holiday is also observed and celebrated in the United States, and in towns like South Windsor.
“My family usually gets together and have food. We go pray, and it’s usually just a time to spend time with family because during Ramadan it’s so hectic and busy, but this is the one day we get to unwind and spend time together not worried about all the little things like school and work and just spend time with family which is more hard nowadays,” sophomore Adam Gadit told The Prowl.
Some traditions that are done during Eid include seeing family, giving gifts to children, new clothes and specific prayers for the day.
“We go to Eid prayer in the morning, and we dress up, and we gather with our friends with the rest of the day, and we have a big meal,” sophomore and President of the Islamic Cultural Club, Alveena Suha said.
SWHS French teacher and Islamic Cultural Club advisor, Mr. Ly, says that it’s a special holiday at the end of the month and is happy to have the day off for Eid. He looks forward to a meeting later in the month of April, where the club will reconvene after the holy month of Ramadan.
This is only the second year that Muslims in South Windsor have the holiday off to celebrate with their families. This change has allowed students to celebrate their culture and spend time with their families without sacrificing their education.
As the celebrations conclude, and the Muslim world exits the month of Ramadan, they look forward to Eid Al-Adha, a holiday marking the culmination of pilgrimage rites near Mecca. This holiday originates from a passage in the Quaran where a prophet sacrificed a ram to God. Today, Muslims celebrate it with a feast and gift-giving. This year the holiday falls on June 9th.
