One of the five pillars of Islam, the month-long fast of Ramadan sees Muslims rededicate themselves to their faith by abstaining from food during from sunrise to sun set, among other acts of restraint and self-discipline.
This year’s Ramadan came to an end on 7 August with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated all over the world in many varied yet similar fashions.
At the end of Ramadan, all Muslims perform special prayers, or salah, which can differ from place to place. In Turkey, for instance, before Eid begins people clean their homes and prepare sweet treats for guests, while children go from door to door collecting gifts of sweets or money.
In Palestine, families spend the three-day Eid period visiting relatives and close friends, and many go to cemeteries to pay their respects to the dead. In this way it’s very similar to what Christians do around Christmas time.
According to custom, men will give cash gifts to female family members. In some villages, more traditional presents are given such as clothes, olive oil and meat.
In Nigeria, the end of Ramadan is celebrated with feasts where many families wear special clothes that they have made themselves or bought for the occasion.
In Ireland, Muslim immigrants tend to celebrate Eid in whatever manner they would back home.
Sikiru Akande Raheem, a Nigerian Muslim and member of the Islamic organisation Ar Rahman, said of his family: “We don’t do special things – we go to mosque first morning of Eid and we eat together.”
He remarks that fasting has its difficulties in Ireland because people are always “eating, drinking and talking. While you’re fasting, you fast with your nose, your eyes, your ears.
“If you are blessed,” he added, “you must travel to Saudi Arabia [for the] Umrah [pilgrimage to Mecca].”
Another Muslim in Dublin, Djelloul Hanba of Algeria, said: “Fasting is easier here because Africa is so hot for fasting and it’s difficult for me. But Ireland is cold country and it makes easier.
“At Eid we buy new clothes for the children. We prepare sweets, make food and we invite our friends.”
Meanwhile, Ummuhan Ceylan from Turkey described her own Eid celebrations.
“We give money to children, we visit our kin who are older than us,” she said. “We eat together with [the whole] family on the first day of Eid.”
The meaning of Eid is a universal one – to bring families and loved ones together. Despite the changing world, Muslims continue to celebrate Ramadan and Eid as they have for countless years.
Eda Halis is an intern with Metro Éireann from Turkey.
