Assalamualaikum Warrahmatullahi Wabarakatu,
Wow, it's rare for me to greet you with Islamic greeting not with "hey hey hey". Hahaha it's special moment for Muslim all around the world isn't it? Eid Mubarak after Ramadhan known as "Eid-al-Fitri", is the day when Muslims celebrate a "victory day".
After one month God training in Ramadhan by fasting and improving our pray, Eid-al-Fitri is the day when Muslims "back to be holy like a baby who just born" because we fast and pray so hard in order to get forgiveness from God. So it's like, we control our lust and we clean our soul and mind from bad things during Ramadhan, then Eid-al-Fitri is like we're clean from any sins and back to be holy human like a baby who just born.
I'm sorry if I make difficult explanation. you can read more about Eid-al-Fitri here
Anyway, Eid-al-Fitri is very special moment for Muslims in Indonesia. Indonesian have different way to celebrate Eid-al-Fitri compare with the other Muslim majority countries in middle east and north Africa. That's why if you live in Indonesia, you will see some phenomenons that happen in Indonesia during Eid-al-Mubarak.
Here's 5 unique phenomenons that happen in Indonesia during Eid-al-Mubarak:
1. Everyone Is Going Back To Homeland (Mudik)
If you are living or come to Jakarta during Eid-al-Fitri, you will have rare experience on the road because you won't see crazy Jakarta's traffic jam. It's because most of workers who're working in Jakarta they are coming back to their homeland, or in Indonesia language it's called "Mudik".
The word "Mudik" is come from Javanese language which means "temporary going back homeland". For those who work in big city like Jakarta, Eid-al-Fitri is the opportunity for them to visit their family, mostly parents who're living in their homeland. For example, my dad is born in North Sumatra province so my grandfather, grandmother, and dad's siblings are living in the village in North Sumatra. My dad is the only son who work and live in Jakarta, so every year he's visiting his family in North Sumatra in Eid-al-Fitri.
Why it must be Eid-al-Fitri to visit family in homeland? It's because Eid-al-Fitri we want to be back to holy like baby who just born and clean ourselves from any bad things and sins, so we have to clean any bad relationship with people around us especially with family by forgiving each other. In Indonesia society, family relationship is very important and have big value, so people going back to their homeland to keep family relationship strong and even stronger.
2. Holiday Allowance (Tunjangan Hari Raya (THR))
This one is what Indonesian workers are waiting for. "Tunjangan Hari Raya" or in English you can call it holiday allowance. Usually, we get one month salary in our THR. So it means, I got double salary in my salary when Eid-al-Fitri. It doesn't mean in the next month I don't get salary, of course I get, but in the month when there's Eid-al-Fitri, I get double salary.
It's ruled by government's regulation you can read here.
For kids, they definitely ask for THR from their parents, uncles, and neighbors and this is what I did when I was kid. That's why I love Eid-al-Fitri.
3. New Clothes Hunting
Brace yourself! Sale is everywhere! People will busy hunting new clothes for celebrate Eid-al-Fitri. It can be up to 70%! Wow, big chance for you who love shopping.
Why Indonesian society do this? Like I mentioned before, Eid-al-Fitri means back to be holy like baby who just born, and new clothes is a symbol that we are back to be holy. That's why most of people are buying white Muslim clothes because white is symbol of being clean or holy.
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| White clothes is a symbol of holy and clean from sins and any bad things |
Nowadays, it doesn't need to be white clothes, as long as they can buy new clothes they will be happy.
4. Various of Culinary and Tarts
You want taste different Indonesian culinary and eat various of local cakes? Then, come to Indonesia when Eid-al-Fitri. I'm sure you can find these foods only in Indonesia during Eid-al-Fitri moments.
Ketupat
Chicken Curry / Opor Ayam
Fried Chili Potato / Sambal Goreng Kentang
Beef Stew / Semur Daging
Pineapple Tarts / Kue Nastar
Cheese Tarts
Snow Princess Tarts / Kue Putri Salju
Mede Peanuts Tarts / Kue Kering Kacang Mede
How is it? Looks yummy right? Have you tasted those foods before? If you haven't, then Eid-al-Fitri should be your time to travel to Indonesia
5. Long Holiday
Since Islam is majority religion in Indonesia and Eid-al-Mubarak is special moment for the society, so government decide to make Eid-al-Mubarak is national holiday and long leave day in calendar. For example, this year Eid-al-Fitri is 25th June 2017, then national leave day is on 23, 27, 28, 29, and 30th of June. It means, government office and companies will have long holiday in Eid-al-Fitri.
This long holiday is benefit for Muslims who going back to their homeland because they will have more time to spend Eid-al-Fitri with their family. School also have same holiday period which become another reason why I love Eid-al-Mubarak when I was students in Indonesia.
So that's 5 phenomenons that always happen in Indonesia's Eid-al-Fitri. If you ask me what kind of special festival in Indonesia, actually it depends on the tribe but the most special event is Eid Mubarak or Eid-al-Fitri.
What about your country? How do you celebrate Eid-al-Fitri in your country? Or, what kind of special events or festival that your countries' society waiting for?
Wassalamu'alaikum Warrahmatullahi Wabarakatu
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