Eid Fireworks

From the early morning of Eid, the fireworks begin to pop off (the sort of "caps" that children are banned from playing with in Canada since I was a child), following the Eid prayer, it is as if a tempestuous storm has traveled through - with the frequent whizzing of fiery crackers and the smoky air they leave in their wake.

Kahk

Kahk is an Arabian dessert eaten at Eid-ul-Fitr that reminds me of cookies that my grandmother used to make us at Christmas-time in Canada: buttered walnut-balls. The walnut balls are more round (Kahk is flattened a bit), they were also much more "solid" and dry (Kahk on the other hand is very light and melts in your mouth). Apart from that they are just about the same, although most Kahk don't have walnuts in them (though you can find some with crushed nuts in the center, or with dates or other jellies).

Kahk ready to go home!

Rows upon rows of deeeeeelicious Kahk

You can try to make them yourselves by following this Kahk recipe from Al Ahram.

Eid Perfume

Source: Tour Egypt Article:
The Flowers of Ancient Egypt and Today

Egyptians have a long history of creating and wearing beautiful perfumes and using incense. During Eid ul Fitr, Muslims wear sweet perfumes in addition to eating sweet desserts along with the feast, in celebration of the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Prophet Muhammad said: Made beloved to me from your world are women and perfume, and the coolness of my eyes is in prayer. (Ahmad and An-Nasa ‘i)

Some other beautiful quotes about perfume in the spirit of Eid ul Fitr:

If you go to the garden of the Heart,

You'll have beautiful perfume like a rose.

If you fly to the sky,

Your face will turn into a moon like the angels.

- Rumi

Eating out on the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr

After fasting from sunrise to sunset for an entire month, it is a wonderful feeling to wake up and go out and have breakfast or sit in a cafe during the day with friends and family!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Buying Clothes for Eid

Every Eid, Egyptians go shopping ahead of time to have new clothes to wear for the holiday. It is also a chance to do an annual (or bi-annual if you do it for both Eids) "spring-cleaning", getting out with the old and in with the new, not just clothing, but bedsheets, towels, etc. The below are scenes from downtown Cairo Pre-Eid Shopping.

Farasha (Folk Fabric for Celebrations)

During Ramadan, and other important festivities such as weddings, you will find these beautiful sheets of fabric with traditional traditional patterns all over them. Entire tents are constructed from these, housing everything from stands selling Ramadan delights, to entire wedding parties. Brightly colored, they are reminiscent of the bright colors of the Sufi dancers in Egypt and the brightly colored homes in the countryside.

Celebration Streamers

When there is a celebration, it is time to hang up lights and beautiful swathes of traditional folk fabric, and streamers (or often a combination of all three together).

A street lined with shiny tinsel streamers

Streamers hanging outside of a meat shop (Mr. Meat).