Eid

July 20th, 2015

Jared

Eid to me seemed quite literally like Christmas in July. It seemed, more specifically, like Christmas and Halloween in July. Like Christmas, kids receive their nice new dresses and kanzus and kofias (male dresses and caps), as well as other toys. Then, they would go trick-or-treating for “Eidi,” and be given money instead of candy.

Luckily I have a brother in my host family who was nice enough to lend me a kanzu and kofia to wear. My family came together around two in the afternoon and had a big meal, which consisted of spiced meat and biryani, a delicious mixed rice plate. I live right next to Mnazi Mmoja Grounds, where the biggest Eid festival takes place, so my neighborhood is crowded and noisy throughout the entire night. This festival also used up so much electricity that we lost power in our house. It was very nice experience to come together as a family and celebrate their happiest day of the year. Eid Mubarak!

Sara

My house had new rugs put in, new curtains put up, and new decorations brought into the sitting rooms to prepare for Eid, where families traditionally buy new things for their homes. My host mother wanted to get me henna as an Eid gift, so Maya and I went with my host sisters to get it done at the home of a local woman the night before the holiday started. The first day of Eid started early in our house, around 7:00 a.m. We had a big breakfast and everyone was busy getting dressed up, the men in the traditional kanzu and kofia and the women in new dresses and scarves made from beautiful fabrics. I spent the day receiving friends and family at home with my three bibis and my host mother while my host siblings went to relatives’ homes to wish them Eid Mubarak and collect their Eidi, Eid gifts or money. Family stopped by all morning for coffee, tea, and cakes, and the bibis passed out money and sweets to all of the children. My host mother made sure all of the children greeted ‘Auntie Sara.’ The family had a big lunch together, and then went out to enjoy the night market at Forodhani Garden with friends.

 

Maya

For Eid, my host mother brought me to her (huge) family’s get together, and we joined them for an afternoon meal. First we stopped at a cemetery. My host sister Natasha explained that it’s custom for families to visit lost loved ones on Eid. We visited my host mother’s mother’s grave to paid our respects, and what happened there was touching: young children were at the cemetery and when someone visited a grave they helped clear the weeds and brush that was overtaking the area around the gravestone.

Next we went to the house where much of my mother’s extended family lives. Usually at home I’m given a spoon to eat my rice, but that day I ate like the rest: with my hands. It was actually easier than I expected. Throughout the afternoon I was clueless to the Swahili conversations happening around me, so I spent most of my time playing with the children and chatting with my host sister.