Eid Mubarak!


(Happy Eid)

Celebrating and learning about holidays around the world has been one of my favorite experiences of travel. Discovering how others celebrate family and religious occasions says a lot about a culture.

I was fortunate to arrive in Kabul during the month of Ramadan to experience this special time of year for Muslims. Ramadan is essential the holiest month of Muslim faith and is marked by a month of daytime fasting. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, when the holy book of the Qur’an was revealed. Muslims around the globe wake early during this month to pray and eat a morning meal before a day of fasting. Fasting is broken at the sunset with a call to prayer and typically eating a fig.

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is called by the sighting of the new moon. Families join together and celebrate with visits and new clothing is worn when possible. The streets of Kabul were mostly deserted yesterday and those we did see were all wearing new clothing. Little boys had pop guns and girls had sparkles in their hair.

Our staff has Sunday and Monday off (we have Friday and Saturday weekends). Most of the international here will be working some from home or the office and take some time off if they want. I think I’ll be working half days on both, including a lunch meeting tomorrow at USAID.

I’m happy to hear from friends and family to learn what things you are interested in. Feel free to let me know if you have questions!

Miel

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