Holidays: Chinese New Years and Eid Al-Fitr
Submitted by Winnie Wong
Chinese New Year is one of the most famous Asian holidays known to the Western hemisphere. The holiday falls on the early days of the 12th lunar month. In preparation for the New Year, people will clean up and decorate their houses. However, it is crucial not to clean on the actual holiday due to the belief that in doing so, one may sweep away the good luck.
Flowers are adorned in the house and Chinese paintings are placed on the door panels. Chinese posters are also hung up with a “副” written on it as a sign of good fortune. Family members from all over gather at one member’s home for a giant feast. Red envelopes are given by married couples to all young children in the family. These represent the celebration of a new year with the customs of an annual reunion dinner amongst family members. Children gather and light firecrackers with one another- the loud sound aimed to ward off evil spirits. The traditional clothes are red, which is considered an auspicious color.
People typically wear new red clothes to symbolize the beginning to the new year. While the traditional clothes are lost in the younger generations, there are some people that continue to dress in the traditional-wear of the Qing Dynasty. Men typically wear a Tang Zhuang (唐装) or Tang Suit, referring to the dynasty of which the suit originated from. It features several traditional Chinese knots going down the front of the shirt. There are styles that can be worn by women as well, such as the Qipao (旗袍), a short fitting dress that may have intricate designs embroidered on it. However, these traditional clothes are not necessary for the celebration of Chinese New Year.
The festival is more focused on spending time with close and distant family members and the great feast aims to bring these people closer together with traditional foods.
Chinese New Year will fall on February 5th, 2019 and it will be the Year of the Pig!
Eid Al-Fitr
For millions of Muslims around the world, Eid Al-Fitr is the most exciting time of the year. Eid Al-Fitr directly translates to “festival of breaking the fast” as it marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a full month of fasting where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, occupying their days with prayer and reflection. This month is a great way to catch up on some individual spirituality. It can also be an exhausting month of refraining from waking up in the morning to a cup of coffee and toast. Despite where you stand on Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr is a joyous occasion where we spend time with all our family and friends, enjoy meals together, and take hundreds of pictures in traditional imported garbs.
Eid Al-Fitr starts in the morning where Muslims congregate for a special Eid prayer followed by a sermon. Afterwards, they disperse with their families and visit the graves of their deceased relatives to pray for them. The rest of the day is filled with visiting extended family and friends and exchanging food, clothes, and gifts.
A very common tradition is to give money to younger relatives and friends. One of the most important parts of Eid is participating in an obligatory donation to the poor. Every member of a family is responsible to make a small donation to a poor family member. This donation is carried out by the breadwinner of the family. This tradition is so important because Eid Al-Fitr is really about selflessness.
Eid Al-Fitr marks a new beginning and this means sporting our best, new traditional clothes. Traditional Eid clothes vary from country to country but it is important that the clothes are traditional with details that make them special and stand out. In India and Pakistan, women wear “sarees” that are spiced up with embroidery, detailed patchwork, and exotic patterns.
he sarees come with a headscarf or “hijab” that is usually one solid color to match the rest of the outfit. Men usually wear “Salwar Kameez” which is a long sleeve garment and pants paired through intricate patterns and bold colors.
It’s common to have the shirts be made from cotton and silk with embroidery around the chest and neck. A more modern look would be to wear a “Sherwani” which is a knee-length, full sleeved buttoned coat. It is similar to salwar kameez in its detailed patterns and material but the top is thicker and warmer. The sherwani is complemented with slim fitted pants which are commonly tailored. To complete this look, there are traditional slip on shoes with sharp toes pointed upwards.
In the Middle East, women may commonly wear a “Kaftan”. These are loose long sleeve dresses with details and pattern around the sleeves and chest. The sleeves have attached fabric to the body creating this flowy winged design. The Kaftan can also be paired with a waist belt. Kaftans have gained lots of recent popularity and are often given as gifts for Eid Al-Fitr. For some, many of these clothes are part of people’s’ daily life, and they have to work a little harder to come up with something creative. Here in the states, many Muslims stick to simpler colors and patterns, however on this holiday, the more detailed and exotic clothing they dress in, the more Instagram “likes” they will receive!
Eid Al-Fitr will begin at sunset on August 10, 2019 and end the evening of August 11, 2019.
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