Celebration

In Canada people are pretty good about celebrating many holidays, but in my country, Afghanistan, we don't have very many holidays. We only have three occasions. One is New Year and we also have two Eids.

There are two major Eids in my country. One is Eid al-Fitr and other is Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr or Smaller Eid comes after the month of Ramadan when people are fasting for one month and then they end the month of fasting to celebrate Eid. People say Eid Mubarak to each other, which means Happy Eid. Eid al-Adha (Greater Eid) comes two months after Eid al-Fitr. An important religious tradition is that people should go to Mecca for a special prayer up there. Some people go to Mecca many times, but those who don't have money to go to Mecca, they can buy meat to share with poor people. A sheep or a cow are killed at home and some meat is given to needy people. Animal is divided into three parts: one part is for cooking, one part is for keeping for themselves and the third part is for the needy people. For both Eids we have a good time with family and we visit all parents especially our elderly nationals.

I think celebrating holidays is important because that is when we have extra time to spend with our family, friends and neighbours.