Things that are diffferent: Idul Fitri date changed!

Imagine it’s 5:30 pm on Christmas Eve.  Family has gathered from out of town for a special meal -- the food is almost done and the table is set.   Kids, adorned in their new clothes, are excited about the festivities to come – whether marching in the Christmas Eve parade, or just spending time at home opening one special present or perhaps all of them!  Churches are putting the final preparations on their Christmas Eve services.  Some people are already on the road heading to church.  The next morning is CHRISTMAS – they can hardly wait!  Adults are a little frazzled with preparations but happy with a holiday glow. 

Then the announcement comes over the radio and the TV.... people start calling and texting each other immediately with the news!  Christmas has been postponed by one day!  Today is not Christmas Eve …..it’s the day before!   

I don’t know what everyone did ….whether they put the special food in the fridge or just ate it …and I don’t know how they felt ….

This is exactly what happened here last night.  The date for Idul Fitri are published on the calendar, but cannot commence until the moon is exactly right.  On the afternoon of Idul Fitri eve, Muslim experts all over the country peered at the skies for the sighting of the new moon….it didn’t appear and therefore the date was postponed.

Everyone was ready though, when the festivities finally started last night.  Jonathan was excited by the children’s parade that went by our house at 7 pm.  All of the kids were shiny in their brand new holiday clothes, singing and holding candles and marching to the beat of a big drum.  At dusk, the mosques started their all night broadcast.  The music continued until 7 am, when our neighbors gathered at the Mosque to worship and hear a special Idul Fitri sermon.  People are now officially breaking their month long fast with delicious food and will soon start visiting each other and asking forgiveness for any wrongs they may have committed over the previous year.  It’s Idul Fitri!

Ramadan 2011

Our neighborhood mosque is located down an alley and behind someone's construction supplies, but it is bright, cheerful, well attended, and well maintained.

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan falls in August this year, from August 1- 29.  Ramadan is a time of intense spirituality for Muslims, during which they spend extra time in prayer and seek God's forgiveness and favor.  Sometime during this month, the first revelation of the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammed making it a sacred time. 

The people fast from sun-up to sun-down.  Ramadan culminates with the huge yearly celebration of Idul Fitri, which this year falls on August 30 - 31.

The culture in this country is so different during this month ....most of the population is fasting from sun-up to sun-down and the level of activity in general is decreased to be sensitive to everyone's lower physical endurance.  For instance the soccer field next to our house is usually loaded every morning with students from local elementary schools doing their PE classes.  This morning, the soccer field is quiet, and the students stay on campus and perhaps do stretching exercises only for PE.

Everyone needs extra money for their holiday travels, so little temporary store booths have popped up here and there.  There is a new fruit stand near the school -- it's so convenient to be able to buy fruit just a block away from home!  I'll enjoy it while I can, but it will likely be gone after the holiday.

Follow this sign to find our local mosque.

Our local mosque uses this tree to help make sure everyone hears the calls to prayer and neighborhood announcements.  Four speakers facing North, South, East and West are attached high in the branches.

As for the effect on our family, we primarily feel it in the mornings.  The first call comes early, around 4:30 am, to wake people up to eat before sunrise.  At 5 am, a half-hour of preaching is broadcast from the mosque.  Jonathan will sometimes sleep though the 4:30 call to prayer, but he almost always wakes up for the sermon.  I wish it wasn't true, as I could use just 1 extra hour of sleep!

It also affects our decision making.  For instance, I was planning to get an ultrasound in the big city next week to check on our new little one.  However, it's the last week of fasting month.  The doctor and the nurses are likely to be grumpy and not performing at their best.  Also, too many people will be on the road traveling and shopping with their last minute holiday preparations.  I've waited this long ....no problem to wait a few more weeks!