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A life in stages of Eid

What’s your favourite memories of Eid? As a child for me it was dressing up. New clothes often stitched by my mom herself, new shoes, getting Eidie (gifts of money) from relatives for fasting as a young child. As I got older and more involved in the practicalities of Eid preparations, the lead up was what I enjoyed. Two days of furious baking would usually precede Eid in our house. Nothing could be bought. Everything was to be homemade. Biscuits, Cakes, Barfi, Sanna, you name it. And I loved it.

As a teenager (and typical of teenagers) my friends became a very important focus. On Eid there was usually a steady stream of friends visiting. Enjoying the bounty of the Eid table, and showing off our Eid outfits. Then also the routine of our Eid day became important to me. After Eid Salaah, my dad and brother would return home from mosque, and we’d have a small breakfast. My dad always had a pre-lunch sample of Chicken curry with Sanna (a steamed rice cake) religiously. Straight after, our families would all meet at my aunt’s house in the morning and if you timed it right you met the whole family there. We would come home to have a big lunch together and my Mum’s fancy Royal Albert china, and crystal glasses would come out. Lunch was always, always, always chicken curry, rice, sanna, roast chicken and roast potatoes and while that sounds boring and repetitive year in and year out, it’s what grounded the day for me. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Just sitting here recounting those memories brings a bit of a lump to the throat, a little from sadness because those were the days my dad was still alive and a bit from just plain nostalgia when you were younger and life seemed a little simpler.

Now, married and a mom, I have almost zero interest in dressing up, ok maybe still a little interest, I do have ovaries after all. But my focus has shifted. It’s more about togetherness, about seeing all the family and friends you don’t get to see all the time, even though the day is short and it’s difficult to get to everyone. But I don’t mind the effort spent driving a fair part of the day to see everyone. I do like what they’re doing in places like London, where friends live far apart. They normally all get together at one house or a community hall and all spend the day together.

In two days (maybe three) I look forward to being bombarded by family. Eating too much, laughing, catching up and just soaking up the spirit of the day. I look forward to falling into bed exhausted from a big family lunch, from driving from pillar to post and with sore feet from my new high heels. Testimony to a day well spent with people who matter and who as we get older will not be around forever.

May your Eid be a Mubarak one. From my family to yours.
Dilshad
xxx

Hungry for Halaal Eid Mubarak

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Comments

  • Love this post. The sense of nostalgia brought a lump to my throat.
    Eid Mubarak to you and yours.

  • Chicken curry with Cornish hen is the Mawalte tradition I think as it is the same with us! Don’t forget the braised peas 🙂
    One year my mom decided to switch things up and made lamb biryani. It just was not the same & did not feel like the Eid we were used thus the very same week she had to make the chicken curry so all was not lost.