Author: Amirazz THE EID IN EGYPT
THE EID IN EGYPT
Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh, Very good morning to everyone .
We enter the final stretch of Ramadan and the most important days and we approach Eid el Fitr, or Breakfast Festival, 3 days of celebration of the end of Ramadan.
This Eid together with the Eid Adha, or the sacrifice are the only two festivals recognized by the Islamic tradition.
This year, as has happened with Ramadan, will be an atypical Eid to the normal ones and I am going to tell you a little for those who do not know it, the most important traditions in Egypt.
The exact date of Eid, like the beginning of Ramadan, is announced by the Mufti, the country’s highest Islamic religious authority and is based on the sighting of the new moon.
SALAT EL EID
Muslims this day get up early, this time not for suhoor but to attend the communal Eid prayer in the mosques.
This prayer is celebrated around 5 in the morning and is attended as a family, children and adults, men and women.
Muslims will gather in mosques or open spaces and offer two units of prayer – called “Rakat”. The prayers are followed by a sermon, in which the imam asks for forgiveness, mercy, and peace for every being across the world.
Other key elements of the Eid celebrations are giving money to the poor (known as ‘Zakat al-Fitr’, the amount to be given depends on the possessions someone has), sending Eid greetings and feasting with families.
BREAKFAST WITH KAHK
The typical sweets of the Egyptian Eid are KAHK (I have shared the recipe) , a pastry filled with dates or dried fruits and covered with icing sugar, Ghorayebat, a super soft cookie that melts in your mouth, Petit Four, the typical tea pastries of a lifetime and the Biscuit Nashader some cookies with different flavors.
These sweets are traditionally made at home. Formerly all the neighbors participated and children and adults sat down to mold kahk that was then taken to the large ovens of the bakeries to bake
Currently each one is baked and molded at home and many people buy it made. I personally do it at home because it has nothing to do with the outside and you control the quality of the ingredients and of course it is much cheaper!
It is believed that the kahk comes from the Pharaonic era since they have found engravings in several tombs of the Valley of the Kings. Another stories dated kahk from 10th century as we explain in the post of Kahk recipe.
NEW CLOTHING AND THE EIDIYA
The “eidiyat” is an amount of money that we receive from our beloved relatives for each Eid. The “eidiya” has always been in Egypt since generations, with its name changing throughout times and different types of gifts serving as “eidiya”.
Originally, the “eidiya” is derived from the word “Eid”which means “giving” or “kindness”, the colloquial word is used by people for the money and gifts that were distributed by the state during the two seasons of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.Also, the names given to the word “eidiya” differed throughout the ages.
According to historical accounts, the tradition of “eidiya” during Eid originated in Egypt during the Fatimid era, and they were known by several names at the time, among them were “drawings” and “expansion”, and the Fatimids were keen to distribute cash and clothes to citizens during the seasons of both Eid el Fitr and Eid el Adha. Eid el Fitr is followed after the holy month Ramadan, hence, the name “fitr” and Eid al Adhanamed after the traditional ritual which is sacrificing a sheep with the intention of giving people in need meat, hence the word “adha”.
The tradition of “eidiya” continued throughout the Mumluk realm, however, the name changed to Jamic “الجامكية،which specify to “buying new clothes”, hence, the concept of buying new clothes during Eid. By time the word to was altered to “eidiya”.
The value of it varied according to the social status. Some people offered “eidiya” in the forms of gold, dinars, while others were receiving dinars of silver, while the princes and senior statesmen were offering them “eidiya” in the form of a plate filled with golden dinars in addition to candy and fine food, as a gift from the ruler.
But during the Ottoman era, the way to offer Eidiya varied greatly, instead of being presented to the princes in the form of gold dinars, they became presented as gifts and cash for children.
This tradition has continued to the present day, but it is currently being presented in an attractive and innovative way.
LUNCH IN FAMILY
On the first day of Eid, the family meets at the parents’ house and everyone has lunch together. Many families make fish with ringa and fesih since many Egyptians do not eat fish during Ramadan.
VISITS AND TRAVEL
In addition to visiting relatives, visiting monuments and gardens is very normal during Eid, so all the places are packed and it is a total burden
Many people in recent years also travel to the beaches to spend a few days there, which also makes the beaches an anthill.
For me the best thing to do during Eid is stay at home because every single place is crowded
This year I’m afraid there aren’t many more options.
Have a nice day Gomaa Mubarak!