11-14-2004, 05:58 PM
Bismillah
As salam alykom brothers and sisters
Allow me to post about what Eid is like in Egypt. Sobhan Allah it has a very special taste. Then Insh aAllah will talk about Ramadan in Mecca.
It starts since the previous evening, people nearly don’t sleep, celebrating and cheering. On Eid morning, all Masjeds start doing the Takbeer after Fajr prayer. O even 3 days before end of Ramadan, large masjeds that are located in main squares prepare spacious areas with carpets for Eid prayer as it is a Sunnah to pray in the open air. On that morning as I said Takbeer starts after Farj till Eid prayer time. U find people from different classes going to Majeds each in their own means, either private cars, public mini vans, or buses. They usually get off in a close walking distance as streets becomes really busy in the morning. At some times, I had major difficulty reaching the Masjed I usually go to on time. It is so nice in the morning when u see children dressed up in their new clothes, which they like dream of buying it before Eid. People usually take with them dates, or candy to give to children and other in the Masjeds.
After prayer we come back home, it is a tradition to have special type of cookies stuffed with either dates, walnuts or pistachio according to the financial capability of the family. Most families like to make it at home and this is another occasion which children really love to attend. The making of such cookies.
Usually during Ramadan people never eat fish for Iftar, that is why on Eid day mostly they eat fish to the extend that fish take away restaurants become very busy. Sometimes u need to book your order 3 days ahead.
What I really like is to watch simple people who can not afford expensive outings going to public parks (other classes go to private membership clubs or resorts outside of the main cities like to the Red Sea). They spend the day at the park. Because of these people Sobhan Allah small business mushroom. U find a man who brings in a very primitively made swings (since they can not afford taking children to fun parks) which he allows children to ride for small amount of money, or those who rent them horses to ride, yes horses. The fact that they look Mash a Allah very much enjoying themselves that makes me happy. I can watch them from my window since I live close to one of those main parks in a main street.
Of course families visit each other, children get a lot of money on that day. Some families meet on the first day and then if they have plans out of Cairo they leave the next day.
Well it does have a special taste. May Allah accept ameen