It's Eid! The annual living proof that happiness can be contagious.
There is something about it that makes you truly happy. Although there is no particularly delightful or extraordinary event that is done during it and although you may have your reasons to be in the blues, you can't deny the thrilling effect it has.
The feverish cleaning campaigns the day before Eid while hearing the traditional songs you hear every year out loud from every TV in your street including yours. Putting on your new pajamas (a habit I haven't given up since childhood). Waking up very early -that's if you've slept in the first place- to go to the prayer. Hearing Al-takbeerat repeated by everyone at the same time producing that loud firm "Allah akbar" as if said by one man, this feeling of strength and power it gives! The usual silly competitions held for the kids after the prayer and before you know they're all running joyfully around the street carrying colorful balloons and toys that they've just won. The extremely high caloric breakfast held after the prayer and forced to eat everywhere you go in Eid. The family gatherings. Seeing people you mostly only see in Eid. The quiet peaceful fresh atmosphere on the streets -if you stay away from main streets and parks, that is- .
Nothing fancy, but you can sense that everybody has taken some group decision to enjoy the day no matter what sort of troubles awaits them after it, and you can't help but getting dragged into it yourself, and before you know those little simple traditions done every year bring so much joy to your heart. Happy enthusiastic people are infectious, and you'll get to be surrounded by them all day.
I know there are people who this particular atmosphere of mass happiness gets on their nerves. Sometimes I'm one of them too, but I know that I'm lucky to have been granted a chance of living long enough to feel it all again this year, lucky for having the luxury of complaining about being surrounded by too many happy people and lucky for being able to feel the joy of it all.
There is something about it that makes you truly happy. Although there is no particularly delightful or extraordinary event that is done during it and although you may have your reasons to be in the blues, you can't deny the thrilling effect it has.
The feverish cleaning campaigns the day before Eid while hearing the traditional songs you hear every year out loud from every TV in your street including yours. Putting on your new pajamas (a habit I haven't given up since childhood). Waking up very early -that's if you've slept in the first place- to go to the prayer. Hearing Al-takbeerat repeated by everyone at the same time producing that loud firm "Allah akbar" as if said by one man, this feeling of strength and power it gives! The usual silly competitions held for the kids after the prayer and before you know they're all running joyfully around the street carrying colorful balloons and toys that they've just won. The extremely high caloric breakfast held after the prayer and forced to eat everywhere you go in Eid. The family gatherings. Seeing people you mostly only see in Eid. The quiet peaceful fresh atmosphere on the streets -if you stay away from main streets and parks, that is- .
Nothing fancy, but you can sense that everybody has taken some group decision to enjoy the day no matter what sort of troubles awaits them after it, and you can't help but getting dragged into it yourself, and before you know those little simple traditions done every year bring so much joy to your heart. Happy enthusiastic people are infectious, and you'll get to be surrounded by them all day.
I know there are people who this particular atmosphere of mass happiness gets on their nerves. Sometimes I'm one of them too, but I know that I'm lucky to have been granted a chance of living long enough to feel it all again this year, lucky for having the luxury of complaining about being surrounded by too many happy people and lucky for being able to feel the joy of it all.
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