Last week, students in the Green Cluster learned about the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr from their classmate, Nour. In 2022, Eid is celebrated on May 1 and 2.
Gaynor’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion curriculum is divided into four different categories, also known as bands, for classes to work on throughout the year. The bands are: identity, respect, social justice, and combating inequality.
According to Intermediate Division Director Michelle Fox, “A huge part of Gaynor’s DEI curriculum involves students exploring, sharing, and celebrating their identities and cultures. I interviewed Nour to learn more about the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.”
In addition to Ms. Fox’s interview (below), Nour also gave a presentation to her classmates to share her family’s traditions and culture.
What is Eid? (Note: In English, Eid is pronounced like ‘eed’ like ‘feed.’)
“Eid is an exciting holiday at the end of Ramadan. You have a giant feast with your family and your close friends. Eid al-Fitr is an Arabic term, which means ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ since it is celebrated at the end of Ramadan. Eid means feast. I like the holiday, because I get to see my family, eat a lot of yummy food and sweet treats, and get new clothes. I also receive gifts and money from close family members. I usually use this money to buy treats and toys. Those are all traditions in my family when we celebrate Eid.”
What do you want people to know about Eid?
“I want people to know that it is a family holiday, and it is at the end of the month of Ramadan. We invite the entire family over. I celebrate in NY. My family lives in Tunisia, so they celebrate there. It is a 3-day holiday that is based on the Islamic Lunar calendar, which means the holiday and day of the feast changes every year. Each year, it takes place 11 days earlier than the previous year. The population in Tunisia is mostly Muslim so the celebrations are different there than they are here in NYC. There are parades in the streets and large crowds celebrating Eid, which is so exciting.”
How can people honor the culture and holiday even if they do not celebrate?
“People can ask those that celebrate questions about the holiday, they could read articles and books, watch videos, and learn about it in DEI or in this article. There are many ways to celebrate Eid even if you are not Muslim. You can give to charity, have sweets (one of my favorite traditions of Eid!), and try cooking a new recipe with your family. We usually cook Fish Couscous which is a traditional North African recipe. It is interesting to know how other people live in a certain way. I love learning about other people’s cultures so I hope everyone who doesn’t know about Eid gets to learn more about it by reading this.”
Happy Eid!