Canada Muslims Await `Eid Festival
As the clock ticks towards the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a national grassroots Muslim group is planning special celebrations and prayers marking `Eid al-fitr in Kitchener, Ontario.
"Eid is a celebration of the holiest month of the Islamic calendar.," Ghada Al-Shurafa of Waterloo, a member of the local chapter of the Muslim Association of Canada, told The Record.
“It's the exchange of gifts and presents, enjoying food and celebrating with family and friends.”
Along with thousands from the Muslim community, Al-Shurafa awaits the `eid prayers and celebrations planned next August 8 at the Kitchener Auditorium.
She will join her family and friends at the celebration of `Eid, the first time a mass event will be held at the Aud to mark the end of Ramadan.
"It's just like Christmas," said the mother of three.
The Muslim Association of Canada holds a mass `Eid festival at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto each year.
This is the first time an `Eid festival of this scale will be held in Kitchener.
The Waterloo-Wellington `Eid Festivals is also planning another `Eid celebration in October at the Aud, marking `Eid al-Adha.
The Eid festival will feature carnival and pony rides and basketball and soccer games outside.
A bazaar featuring vendors selling clothing, books and toys will be located inside.
`Eid Al-Fitr is one the two main Islamic religious festivals along with `Eid Al-Adha.
After special prayers to mark the day, festivities and merriment start with visits to the homes of friends and relatives.
And while traditionally everyone wears new clothes for `Eid, children look forward to gifts and traditional `ediya (cash).
During `Eid days, families and friends exchange visits to express well wishes and children, wearing new clothes bought especially for `Eid, enjoy going out in parks and open fields.
Helping all Muslims to celebrate `Eid, the leading Muslim Association of Canada hopes to sponsor needy Muslim families during the festival.
"The purpose of the festival is to make it accessible to whole community," Al-Shurafa said.
She added that organizers hope to sponsor 20 needy Muslim families by donating $150 to each family.
To date, $1,050 has been raised. Also, food donated throughout Ramadan will be collected and given to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Al-Shurafa said the event is free and is open to Muslims and non-Muslims, hoping that `Eid celebrations will be held at the Aud each year.
"We are providing the real impression of what Islam is really about and our values," she said.
Muslims make up nearly two percent of Canada's some 32.8 million people and Islam has become the number one non-Christian faith in the country.
A poll has showed that the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian and are more integrated and better educated than the general population.
Source: On Islam
“It's the exchange of gifts and presents, enjoying food and celebrating with family and friends.”
Along with thousands from the Muslim community, Al-Shurafa awaits the `eid prayers and celebrations planned next August 8 at the Kitchener Auditorium.
She will join her family and friends at the celebration of `Eid, the first time a mass event will be held at the Aud to mark the end of Ramadan.
"It's just like Christmas," said the mother of three.
The Muslim Association of Canada holds a mass `Eid festival at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto each year.
This is the first time an `Eid festival of this scale will be held in Kitchener.
The Waterloo-Wellington `Eid Festivals is also planning another `Eid celebration in October at the Aud, marking `Eid al-Adha.
The Eid festival will feature carnival and pony rides and basketball and soccer games outside.
A bazaar featuring vendors selling clothing, books and toys will be located inside.
`Eid Al-Fitr is one the two main Islamic religious festivals along with `Eid Al-Adha.
After special prayers to mark the day, festivities and merriment start with visits to the homes of friends and relatives.
And while traditionally everyone wears new clothes for `Eid, children look forward to gifts and traditional `ediya (cash).
During `Eid days, families and friends exchange visits to express well wishes and children, wearing new clothes bought especially for `Eid, enjoy going out in parks and open fields.
Helping all Muslims to celebrate `Eid, the leading Muslim Association of Canada hopes to sponsor needy Muslim families during the festival.
"The purpose of the festival is to make it accessible to whole community," Al-Shurafa said.
She added that organizers hope to sponsor 20 needy Muslim families by donating $150 to each family.
To date, $1,050 has been raised. Also, food donated throughout Ramadan will be collected and given to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Al-Shurafa said the event is free and is open to Muslims and non-Muslims, hoping that `Eid celebrations will be held at the Aud each year.
"We are providing the real impression of what Islam is really about and our values," she said.
Muslims make up nearly two percent of Canada's some 32.8 million people and Islam has become the number one non-Christian faith in the country.
A poll has showed that the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian and are more integrated and better educated than the general population.
Source: On Islam
