BACKGROUND
Eid ul-Fitr, often abbreviated as simply Eid, is an Islamic holiday of marks the end of Ramaddan, the month of fasting. Fitr means "to break" and therefore symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period and of all evil habits. The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the prophet Muhammad with his friends and relatives after the victory of the Battle of Badr. In Malaysia, Eid is also commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri (also Hari Raya Puasa, literally "Fasting Day of Celebration") is a joyous occasion for Muslims, as it signifies a personal triumph, a victory of self-restraint and abstinence, symbolising purification and renewal. Muslims in Malaysia celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term "Hari Raya" literally means "Day of Celebration"
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
FASTING
Fasting during the month of "Ramadhan" is mandatory , whereby Muslims are required to abstain from satisfying their most basic needs and urges, daily, from dawn to dusk. However, this fasting responsibility is exempted for the young, old or infirm ones. It is one of the five tenets of Islam; as is the paying of zakat (alms tax for the poor), which must be tithed by the end of Ramadhan. Other races like the Chinese, Indians and etc understand this responsibility that is being carried out by the Muslims. So, they tend to avoid eating in front of their Muslim friends and colleagues at this period.
In this period, one will have a tonne of choices in varieties of food. Often "pasar ramadhan" (Ramadhan markets) are opened, where all sorts of food and kuih (traditional Malay delicacies) are sold for breaking fast or "buka puasa".
In Malaysia, the period of fasting ends when the new moon is sighted on the evening of the last day of Ramadhan. The actual sighting is conducted by state appointed religious officials at various vantage points (usually at hilltops) throughout the country. If the crescent is sighted, the following day is then declared the first day of Aidilfitri, which is also the beginning of the 10th month of the Muslim calendar "Syawal".
PREPARATION
The joy of Hari Raya Puasa begins early even before the first day. A month or so before the big day, excitement mounts as the house is readied for the celebration with new furnishing and decorations. Some even painted the whole house.
Of particular interest are the last 10 days of Ramadan, where many keep vigil for Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Decree), the night when the Quran was sent down. It is believed that angels descend and shower blessings on that particular night, so homes are brightly decorated with oil lamps or pelita. Normally these lamps are lighten up by the young ones. They enjoy doing so.
Mosques, as well as government and some commercial buildings, are also decorated and brightly lit to mark the auspicious day. The most predominant colour seen in decorations during this season is green which is commonly associated with Islamic items. It is often combined with yellow or gold.
The night before Aidilfitri, congregations will recite the takbiir, which is held in mosques or musollahs. In some communities, there will be congregations reciting the takbiir from house to house.
As for the ones working in big cities, they would take a few days off before the big day to pack their stuff up and head back to their hometown in rural areas. This is usually labelled as "balik kampung", which means heading back to their home town to celebrate the big day with their parents and family members. "Balik kampung" is a favourite term among youngsters as they will have a chance in meeting up with their long lost friends back in the village.
THE BIG DAY
The Muslims steps into the first day of Aidilfitri by congregating at mosques for morning prayers. Everyone is usually fashioned out in their best costumes to mark the special occasion. Having breakfast at home with the family comes next, followed by a visit to the cemetery where deceased loved ones are remembered. There, the graves are cleaned and overgrowth is cleared off , right before the prayers are being carried out.
This is also a time to forgive and forget past quarrels. Asking for forgiveness is done in order of seniority. The younger members of a family approach their elders (parents, grandparents, etc) to seek forgiveness, to "salam" (a handshake), then kiss the hands of the older person as a sign of respect.
The usual greeting when giving the "salam" during Aidilfitri is "Selamat Hari Raya", which means "Wishing you a joyous Hari Raya". Children and old folks are given "duit raya" (gifts of money), in small green envelopes. Recently , the ones giving out the "duit raya" have gone for the Chinese practice of putting the money in "ang pow" packets however instead of the bright red colour, the packets are green in colour.
The first three days are celebrated grandly. But the rest of the "Syawal" month does not end just like that. Muslims hold "open house" throughout the month, where friends and neighbours of other races are invited to join in the celebrations.
CUISINE
On this big day, many traditional Malay delicacies are being served. The main attraction are the "ketupat" which are rice cakes wrapped in coconut leaves. These "ketupat" are normally being served alongside with the mouth-watering "rendang" (varies from chicken to beef). The "rendang" is actually a dish where the chicken, beef or etc are cooked with spices and coconut milk. Besides being served with "rendang", these "ketupat" are also being served with "satay" (grilled meat on a skewer).
Another famous dish is the "lemang". It is glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes. Nice eaten with "rendang", or chicken curry. Next one, the "serunding" (dessicated coconut fried with chilli). Once you have tried them, you would crave for more.
If you think that having all those delicacies are too heavy, you can try the lighter ones. On this big day, cookies are abundance. All different kind of cookies are being served ranging from chocolate cookies to butter cookies. In fact, there will be new recipes of cookies every year for the people to try them out.
COSTUMES
On the special day, no one will be left out especially in presenting themselves in a great , elegant costumes. For the men, "Baju Melayu" is the best choice. The attire would not be a complete one without the "kain samping" which is a piece of brocade tied around the waist, and trousers to match the shirt and a "songkok", a headdress.
For the women, they normally opt for the traditional "Baju Kurung", the quintessential Malay attire. Some are made by silk and some are just normal cotton. The outlook of this attire is just elegant. For those who want to present themselves in a more modern look, "Baju Kebaya" is the choice. Both of these attire are just exquisite.