Tis the season to be jolly, they say. The exchanging of presents, the meeting and greeting of family members, Christmas is not too dissimilar to another festival ..
Eid. The festival of Eid is of course twice a year, which marks the end of Ramadhan or the end of Pilgrimage season (Hajj).
Just like Christmas, the Muslims too traditionally go to relatives houses. Whereas people who tend to celebrate Eid, tend to spend their day waiting outside the hairdressers waiting to get their hair cut.
If they’re not there, then the journey to Trafford Centre is an Eid day must. Then to top the day off? Well, surely the trip to Manchester Curry Mile (Wilmslow Road) awaits.
Not so much the cuisine of the Curry Mile, but the fact that very same Curry Mile transforms into a Le Mans street race. Wheel spins and the high revved engines, maybe a breach of the peace, but not everyone celebrates Eid in this way.
Christmas, from my understanding, is an occasion to wine and dine (literally), where Christmas crackers are cracked, and dad jokes are told … ( need dad jokes telling? Call me! I will do it for free!).
Turkey will be enjoyed (the food not the country), jumpers with a Christmas theme tend to be worn, mince pies and tend to be eaten and wine tends to be drank. In some Christmas households, the occupants tend to get drunk.
When it comes to Eid, Muslims do not get drunk but eat quite a lot let’s just say. Chicken, kebab and fish is just for a starter! Then it’s the mains (which is suitable for serving half of Manchester).
Muslims might not get into an intoxicated state through drinking, but some managed to get into that state through eating (true story)
People who celebrate Christmas might not eat as much as Muslims when celebrating Christmas.
Muslims and people who celebrate Christmas have in common is that they spend time with their families, and in turn look to savour the time they aren’t able to spend otherwise.
However you spend this day, I hope you are able to spend it with the people you love and care for. I also hope you can share a good meal with those very people too. It’s over and out from The Bearded Captain.
The Bearded Captain 