Sometimes we went down disappointed after scanning the empty sky. Sometimes, a naughty cloud tricked us, as we turned our backs disappointed, it freed from it's sail the lunar crescent.
Of course we were never alone on the roofs, children on neighbours' roofs also contemplated the sky, playing who'll announce the joyful news to others ?
If indeed the Eid was announced for the next day, the children dined mind in peace, delighting in advance, mentally preparing the plan for the Eid's day.
Then it was time to prepare clothes, ironing, put them on a hanger and gather all the accessories. Consequently it was their duty to get up early .. anyway they did not sleep at all the night ..
The D-Day after washing, getting brushed, scoured ears, nose cleaned, we dressed up for eid. Girl's crystal bracelets made a lot of noise. And each of them had harassed her parents to buy a all colored beaded purse of all colors or one which get along with there dress' color, to keep all the money received Eidi. Children then harassed parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends, etc..The Eidi that in few hours will be spent few blocks away on a small square of bazaar for carnival, ice cream and colorful beverages, performances of monkeys, bears, snakes ... We lost sunglasses, sometimes a scarf , sometimes you come with a button less T-shirt, lost shoes, stained clothes ! But nothing mattered for children, it was most important to fully celebrate the Eid!
Their mothers cooked them saviyans, their fathers bought them samosays, rolles and jalaybians. We often served rice with meat. Thus all the fasters can anew taste of food put away from their diet, or at least which consumption had been reduced during ramzan.
we received family, neighbors, friends. A festive atmosphere prevailed. We knew, we could stop anyone in the street to wish him Eid Mubarak. Everyone was a comrade in the party.
Our district's night-watchman, Chokidar, who during Ramzan also assumed the role of carillonneur, ie: he woke people up for Sehri, came to ask his Eidi. Another man passed for the same purpose, commonly known as Chimtay wala baba, i.e. the man with a clip of the same form as those commonly used in Pakistan to change the side of Pakistani bread, roti. His clip was giant, and he produced the music to accompany the praise of the Prophet (PBUH) to wake people up in the morning too.We had three days off, sometimes more to celebrate the end of Ramzan. Three days to recover. Three days to restart again. Three days when the world around the children stopped to have fun. Three days for I'm growing nostalgic again and again, year after year.
And now : i realize what my english teacher said once, "Eid is a normal day to others..."
A cold shower to take a fresh start, clean clothes, and not always brand new for the simple reason that occasions to wear them are very scarce. Some "Eid Mubarik", "Khair Mubarik" exchanged while brushing teeth. You swallow a glass of milk, catching the backpack and run to catch the bus. Destination : school.
And even if children decided not to go to school, there would be nothing to do at home and catch up the lessons is not always a good perspective. Especially when classes become important, one-day absence represents a weekend of work to catch up. Few "Happy completion of ramzan!" exchanged with other Muslims mates in the corridors. And that's all.
At 5 p.m. back to home morning Saviyans are cold.
It's joyless, there is neither the party atmosphere nor fine clothes for Eid. Nothing. Even after a month of hard time.
However, I feel lucky to have experienced it at least once in my life. And every year, I remember all that I have experienced once ...
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