Celebration of Eid ul-Fitr : The celbrating of Eid In the United States.

» Ameenah - The celbrating of Eid In the United States.

I was born and raised Christian, every Sunday my mother although she never went to church nor did I ever see her pray made sure that myself and my siblings were carried off to church in the church bus. We spent every holiday season surrounded by gifts, food, family and decorations that could only be used this time of the year. It was an exciting time. We sang songs, cooked huge meals, and spent more money on each other than we had spent all year. By the time that my third child was born I had already drifted far from Christianity and had felt sick around the holiday seasons. None of our practices as a child represented what we claimed we were celebrating.
In 1992 I converted to Islam my first three Ramadans and Eids were quiet one day events. Nothing momentous and nothing spectacular. Some years ago I moved to Ohio to find a small American Muslim Community who really celebrated during the Eid. We danced, sang songs, exchanged gifts and as the years have passed I have become extremely more envolved.Yet I still miss something in this most holy celebration. I want this Eid to reflect my family. I have four children who are fasting through Ramadan they have struggled with all of the American influences drifting in from every ones else holiday. We dress , sing , dance , eat, and play American. I went to the library to find information on celebrations but there is nothing American that reflects our
Holy Day. I would like the communities feed back on what we can do take make this TRUE HOLY DAY spectacular,reflecting this wonderful country we live in without losing the purpose.

-- posted by Ameenah