Shows our ignorance here - we know that Ramadan is ending and that Eid should be starting on Aug 19 or 20, but we can't figure out if the crescent moon has been spotted over Mecca and if Eid has begun. Our only options are to go out to a mall or to the Danat pool to find out if Arabs are eating and drinking in public! If so, Eid Mubarak!! We need an Arab friend, who we can call and who can explain things. Sad when you are so much an expatriate that you have to go to an international hotel to figure out what is going on. It is like not knowing if Christmas is taking place and having to go to a Hilton to find out.
There are many more Emiratis at the stores now so that suggests to me that they are preparing for the end of Ramadan one way or the other. Eid apparently is about family time, prayer, eating, being together, giving gifts. There was supposedly a spurt of charitable giving, too.
After a month of eating only at home, we are planning to take a huge picnic out to a public place at 2pm and just cram it in! That would be culturally appropriate, wouldn't it?
The Internet has just helped me - the moon was not spotted in Saudi and the UAE, so Eid will be Sunday, Aug 19. ah, the relief. Maybe there's a good website that puts you right in touch with Mecca. I need to find that....
There are many more Emiratis at the stores now so that suggests to me that they are preparing for the end of Ramadan one way or the other. Eid apparently is about family time, prayer, eating, being together, giving gifts. There was supposedly a spurt of charitable giving, too.
After a month of eating only at home, we are planning to take a huge picnic out to a public place at 2pm and just cram it in! That would be culturally appropriate, wouldn't it?
The Internet has just helped me - the moon was not spotted in Saudi and the UAE, so Eid will be Sunday, Aug 19. ah, the relief. Maybe there's a good website that puts you right in touch with Mecca. I need to find that....
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