For most people, the holiday break from Dec. 21st to Jan. 1st involves some sort of jolly old plump man climbing down the chimney in order to deliver presents. For others, the holidays are earlier in the year. The Muhumed family practices Islam and instead of gift giving during Christmas, they celebrate Eid.
Eid is the celebration at the end of the fast during the month of Ramadan. The day after Ramadan ends, families come together stronger because of the fast.
“It’s a lot like Christmas because it’s when a lot of people come together and we all celebrate and enjoy life and reflect on all the good things that have happened to us over the year and enjoy being a community together,” sophomore Hodan Muhumed said.
Junior Dahga Muhumed, Hodan’s sister, said one of the main differences between Christianity and Islam is that while Christians believe that Jesus is God’s son, Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet.
Muslims fast because they believe that their prophets fasted, so they should as well. Along with tradition, fasting allows the participants to understand people in third-world countries who do not get food every day and to put themselves in others shoes.
Some traditions are to don people’s skin with henna tattoos and dress up in someone’s nicest clothes.
“I was around four so it was my first Eid in America,” senior Anisa Aden said. “I used to live in Maine. My uncle came and he’s my favorite uncle. Every time I think about Eid I always think of him because he gave me a special dress that now my little sister wears.”
Eid is celebrated twice a year. The first Eid is the celebration of the end of Ramadan, but there is a second one about a month and a half later.
“We have a story in the Quran about the prophet Abraham and how he sacrificed his son,” Aden said. “In reality he didn’t sacrifice him; God rewarded him with a goat. We have this belief that God spared his son so we all come together and, we don’t do it here, but back home we sacrifice a goat. After we celebrate, we eat the goat or pass it on to the needy.”
The Muhumeds moved to North Dakota four years ago and Hodan still remembers what Eid was like at her former home in San Diego, Calif.
“One of my favorite memories as a little kid was going to the carnival and seeing all the different acts and performers and going on a bunch of rides as well,” Hodan said. “Eid was even more important.”
Hodan and the rest of her family do not live in California anymore and North Dakota does not seem to have the same attitude toward Eid as she would like. The celebrations are not as elaborate, but Hodan still enjoys Eid to the fullest.
“It just means that we need to get more creative with our ideas,” Hodan said. “Over there there’re so many possibilities and so many things you can do. After we moved here four years ago, we had to think of different things we could do. We had to get together with our family more and become more family oriented when it came to Eid.”
Because Aden moved here from Kenya, she had noticed an even more drastic change.
“It’s different now that I’m in America,” Aden said. “Back home we had the call of prayer going out throughout the entire city and we could hear it. It’s a different atmosphere but it’s still the same because my family and friends who I know are here.”
After celebrating Eid and reflecting on Christmas, Dahga realized a common root between different holidays.
“I think the main difference is religion,” Dahga said. “Overall, everyone celebrates their holidays with family and friends, acting generous and kind.”