*Intro - (Laylat Al Eid – Umm Kalthum SONG PLAYS THEN VOLUME DECREASES AT 0:17)*
For those attending the Hajj pilgrimage, it will be the most valued, spiritual experience in the Islamic community.
The rest of the Muslims will be celebrating the holy feast of Eid…
*(Laylat Al Eid – Umm Kalthum SONG FADES OUT 0:30)*
As tradition teaches, families will rise early in the morning and people will put on their new and best clothes to visit other family members. Children may also receive gifts and new bills of Egyptian pounds as their “Eideya” or Eid gift just like a child at Christmas would.
Masses will fill the streets to perform the Eid prayer which are preceded and followed by mellow chanting of the name and superior qualities of god.
Local Maadi resident Ahmed gives us his meaning of Eid and what it means to him:
AHMED: “Eid is a great occasion for enjoyment and celebration. Most of us are waiting for it just to celebrate and get together and socialize with the family…socialize with friends since it is an enjoyable occasion.” (0:24)
When the prayers have been performed, Muslims and butchers will gather in their spiritual vibe and prepare to slaughter thousands of cows and sheep.
The livestock are killed to honor the story of the prophet Abraham and his son Ismail.
Once slaughtered, the meat is then distributed to the poor, and to many families this is their only annual meal to include meat. With that in mind, Eid is also a time for many Muslims to be involved with charitable work such as giving clothes, meat and money to the poor.
MAHA: “Eid to us is “family gathering” and you know…everyone should be happy because in this occasion we remember the prophet Abraham, when God protected his son from slaughtering. So we are celebrating this occasion. We are giving food for the people, for the poor people, money. Making sure that everyone around us is happy and enjoying this occasion.” (0:30)
Says Maha, a mother of three on her way to visit family members.
Back home while men deal with the slaughtering, women prepare ‘Fata’, the traditional dish of Eid consisting of cooked rice with pieces of bread garnished with special garlic and vinegar dressing. The dish is eaten with either beef or lamb and is considered a delicacy.
This Eid or “Eid Al Adha” is sometimes referred to as the “Big Eid” since it’s longer than the Eid el Fitr that follows the month of Ramadan. It is the longest Islamic holiday enjoyed by Muslims all around the world.
*Outro - (Laylat Al Eid – Umm Kalthum SONG PLAYS THEN FADES OUT
0:40 – 0:52)*
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