Eid al Fitr

At last we have reached the end of Ramadan... well almost. We are still waiting to find out exactly when the fasting can stop (ie when the new moon is officially sighted) but it has to be sometime this weekend.

Wednesday night was the “Night of Power” when people go to the mosque and spend the night in prayer, reciting the Koran. This is believed to be the night when the first sections of the Koran were revealed to Mohamed and so is the holiest night of the year. As Mohamed did not actually give the date of his revelations no one can be 100% sure about when the “Night of Power” actually occurs though it is known be one of the odd numbered days in the last 10 days of Ramadan. In Morocco most authorities have settled on the 27^th night of Ramadan. Special grace is bestowed on those who make the prayers... and, I am sure, to the ladies who send their best plates of couscous to the mosque to help sustain those staying up all night.

In a way the end of Ramadan is a bit like the end of the year (even though it is the 9^th month of the calendar). People emerge from Ramadan feeling renewed physically and spiritually, with their sins washed away and also having reflected on their behaviour and life - that is, of course, assuming that they have behaved during Ramadan as they should have!

Already everyone is excited about the Eid. Souks and shops have been extra busy as people have stocked up (again) with special food for the feasting that follows Ramadan. It is customary to have new clothes to wear for the Eid and to give gifts to children. So the clothes and toy shops are doing a roaring trade. Homes are also given a major clean and this is the time for redecoration and maybe new furniture.

The Eid celebrations start with community prayer. These are usually held outside the local mosques (as too many people arrive for everyone to fit inside). The services are usually kept quite short and then everyone rushes home to eat – in daylight! After this neighbours and family visit and eat and visit and eat, culminating in a big family meal in the evening.

The Eid al F’tir is also the time when Moroccans share their good fortune by giving food or money to people in need. Everyone who is able is expected to give around 2kg of flour or dates – or the financial equivalent - and this gift must be given before the end of the Eid prayer. The money and food collected is distributed by the mosque.

I have been told that the weather is always good on the Eid as our reward for fasting. Good weather in Moroccan terms is cool and overcast... and possibly even rainy! This would indeed be a blessing on this hot and dry country. Though this year I doubt residents in Rabat and Casa, who suffered huge disruption to their lives when torrential rain caused flooding this week, would agree.