Fun Ideas to Celebrate EID this Year at Home
In the past, as the holy month of Ramadan would draw to a close, families would have been gearing up for a myriad of Eid celebrations across the city. This year, however, during these very exceptional times, the UAE government is advising us to avoid large gatherings in order to keep everyone safe and to practice social distancing. So, with that in mind, not being able to practice our Eid traditions as we are used to, we are looking at ways to celebrate at home.
What is Eid Al Fitr?
Marking the end of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr (roughly translated to “festival of ending the fast”) is a celebration after a whole month of fasting for Muslims.
On this day, Muslims are encouraged to dress in their fancy clothes and usually attend a special Eid prayer at their neighborhood mosque. This year, Muslims are asked to do their prayers at home instead.
Eid is also a time where families donate to charity, give gifts to their children, enjoy a feast with their loved ones, and are encouraged to settle any feuds in their lives.
So how can we celebrate at home this year?
- Dress Up in Your Fancy Clothes
Yes, do it! You might not be going out to visit your friends, grandparents or other relatives, but getting dressed up is definitely going to make it feel a lot more like a special occasion.
- Decorate your house for the special occasion
- Bake Some Snacks
- Maamoul is a cookie-like nut-filled pastry. It can be filled with a variety of nuts but is best made with walnuts, pistachios, or almonds.
- Simple Sugar Cookies and decorate them as a family
- Have A Virtual Visit with Friends and Family
Eid is all about coming together with your friends and family, so if you can’t physically go there to be with them, get on Zoom and have a virtual gathering. Your kids can huddle up for some Eid stories with their grandparents, and you can even set a place at the table for your virtual guests.
- Play Some Games
- Charades
- Moon & Star Tic Tac Toe
- Make Eid Crafts & Decorations
- EID Greeting Card
- 3-D Stars
- EID Paper Banner
- Make gifts for each other in your family
- Family Story Time
Dedicate a time for stories. This is an excellent chance for you to teach your kids about the glorious past of Islam or little stories from the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions that instill good habits and learning in them. Pick an incident and narrate it to your kids, explain the moral concepts behind it and engage them with real-life scenarios and their probable reactions to them, keeping in mind the lesson they learned.
Don’t forget the less fortunate around us during this time. Join hands with one of the Ramadan charities in Dubai to share the bounties of this blessed month with the underprivileged. We know celebrating Eid Al Fitr at home in Dubai may not be the first choice for a lot of you, but your safety comes first. So stay home and stay home!
