It is Eid today.

 

For those unaware, Eid is the Muslim equivalent of Christmas... only that Eid comes twice a year, once to mark the successful completion of the month of fasting (Ramadan), and second to mark Prophet Abraham's sacrifice of his son for God (I am assuming everyone knows the story). Today is the latter.

 

I woke up just in time to reach the Eid prayer. Took about 15 minutes and was back at home. There are 4 goats that've been tied up in our house for the last few days. These shall be sacrificed today in memory of Prophet Abraham's sacrifice... just as soon as the butcher decides to show up. Today is his day, and I can't do anything to expedite his arrival. He will come as he pleases. There are too many others who will happily take him off of my hands if I manage to tick him off.

 

My mum is in the shower right now. My sister is asleep in her room. Afterall, it is a holiday! Rest of my immediate family is abroad. I live in a fairly posh area of the city, and I reckoon majority of the homes here have similar situations. Males are up because they had to go for prayers... those who did not feel like it are still sleeping... females are mostly sleeping. It is 9am.

 

I reckon that majority of the households will come 'alive' around noon. People will wake up and sit in front of the TV. Afterall, it is a holiday. Majority will not even look at the sacrifices they are offerring. "There is too much blood and smell" is the general complain, and I have to agree that it is true to some extent. There is a bit much of it. Some people will be visiting others, family members and friends. My family is usuall pretty active in doing that, but since dad is abroad this time, I am not sure we will be leaving the house much either.

 

Sit... sacrifice animals... eat meat from the sacrifices... distribute most of it to neighbours and 'the needy'... watch tv... sleep... eat... sleep and watch some more tv. Afterall, it is a holiday.

 

I see you have been patiently reading my ramblings about Eid, and I would assume you are thinking what the point of all this smalltalk is. So here is it: as I walked back into home after the Eid prayer that I barely made, through the stink of 4 goats, and fretting about if the butcher will make it anytime soon, belive it or not, I thought of the Grinch! He couldn't get away with stealing Christmas, so maybe he stole Eid instead!

 

I remember when Eid used to be a great and festive time. I remember that about fifteen years ago, we actually used ot enjoy it. All family used to get together at my grandparents' house on my maternal side or my eldest uncle's from my paternal side, and we used to have a rolicking time. As a kid, I remember some of my fondest memories coming from Eid at my grandparents' house. Some of the wound marks you see on my head are from injuries incurred while playing pakran pakrai (cops and robbers) with my cousins!

 

As all the guys left for prayer in the morning, ladies would wake up and get ready. When we returned from prayers, all our sisters, cousins, aunts and everyone else would be ready, all dressed up to wish us and each other Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid... technically, you don't make this wish until after the prayers. Therefore, they would wait for us).

 

Sacrifice was not a burden. Everyone used to watch... even the little girls; not because of any reason other than that they should. As we sacrifice animals, it is for us to remember that a Prophet put a knife to his son's throat because he was commanded by God. If it is hard for us to see the sacrifice because of the blood of animals being spilt, how difficult would it have been to decide to spill the blood of one's own son?  That is what this day is all about. Fun, joy, happiness, family, friends... and rememberance.

 

These days, we forget about everything and everyone. We forget to pray (including myself); we forget to get dressed early in the morning; majorty of us forget to even wake up before noon; we forget the spirit of the occassion; we forget the sacrifice! Who can be bothered with rememberng all this? Afterall, it is a holiday!