Non Muslims celebrating Eid al Fitr

[Madridinmymemories]

I live in a very diverse area. This year and last I've noticed a huge increase in my white hippie mum mates attending Eid al Fitr (end of the Eid fasting) celebrations. Down the road from us they get big tables out and shut the road off, it looks a great street party!
My issue is that we (Non Muslims) haven't partaken in Ramadan so why should we get to celebrate the feast bit? If we were really into celebrating every cultural occasion then wouldn't we do the fasting bit as well?

I can't think of an equivalent for another faith joining in on our festivities without doing the religious bit first. Most people eat Easter eggs without having given anything up for lent. Most people nowadays just enjoy the present and food bit of Christmas without thinking too much about Jesus being born.
Am I just being grumpy? I think if I was Muslim I would find non Muslims just joining in the feast bit kind of strange.

You sound absolutely awful. Judgmental and hypocritical. Did you intend for your first post to be such a contradiction?

Surely we should be celebrating as a community different festivals and events, religious or not. That's what will bring us together as a united society.

Then again, I'm a bit of a white hippie mum so idk . Maybe we are all unreasonable 🤷😂

It is slightly demeaning to call them 'white hippies' why do they have to be hippies to simply embrace all cultures??!!

As long as they are welcome, of course everyone should go, and you should give it a try.

Surely a truly inclusive respectful society looks just like this! A celebration of all festivities and respect for all cultures and religions.
I'd be thrilled to see this to be honest with you.

This is so lovely, everyone sharing and caring. Eid mubarak to you all

I can't think of an equivalent for another faith joining in on our festivities without doing the religious bit first. Most people eat Easter eggs without having given anything up for lent. Most people nowadays just enjoy the present and food bit of Christmas without thinking too much about Jesus being born.

You've just contradicted yourself.

I think we have to be mindful of British history which is filled with those who have picked the best bits of other cultures and discarded the rest.

Have you not asked your white hippie mates why they are celebrating Eid? And surely if moving into a diverse area so your kids don't live in a bubble is what you are experiencing diversity and multiculturalism

Seriously give it up OP. You are creating an issue where there isn't one.

Ummmmm a lot of non Christians buy Christmas presents and Easter eggs but no body gets upset or offended about that........::

Rich, white kids from affluent parts of Bristol flock down to St Paul's for the carnival but they don't give a shit about the issues affecting that area.

St Paul's Carnival is a huge event in Bristol - I think you'll find a wider range of demographic attend than just "rich, white kids."

Many people are not even aware of St Paul's yet the carnival draws people to the area, offers the opportunity to integrate with those from St Paul's and as a result, learn more about the problem they face. The man who was tasered is an entirely separate issue.

OP: AIBU?
Everyone: Yes.
OP: No I'm not!

As you were...

DH and the DC are Muslim, I am Christian. I think it is a good thing. As a PP said it is helps break down barriers and “normalise” Muslims. There is so much othering from the “all Muslims think xxx” brigade that it is really positive for people to go and eat cake and talk and realise that most people have more in common than they realise.

My DC give and receive Xmas cards and eat Easter eggs.

OP I understand the point you are making (I think). You mention the celebrations look like a big street party and so have little to do with the religion itself? If so, I get that point and it would be disrespectful if the party included alcohol, a BBQ etc.

However assuming that is not the case then maybe your 'white, hippie mates' are just celebrating inclusivity which is a good thing.

Have to admit that as a British born woman of West Indian descent I cringe during the summer when white Rastafarians, swigging Red Stripe and dancing badly to Bob Marley in the local park make a point of talking to me about their last fantastic trip to Jamaica and the weed was amazing...anyway, I digress. This doesn't sound like the same thing to me. I've been to more Eid al-fitr celebrations then I can remember since I was a child (massive Muslim community where I live) and one of the best aspects for me is the way they throw open their doors to the entire community.

I don't think it's the same as Christmas as not many people I know go to church at all....

Of course it's the same as Christmas.

And Easter too.

Loads of people show up at my church for Christmas and Easter. They are very welcome.

@Guadalquivir19
1. You don't have to be brown or black to be a muslim. I know lots of English/N. American/European muslims. Some are converts to Islam whilst others are 2nd/3rd generation muslims.

I wanted to address this misconception. English/N. American/European does not equal white. There are loads of non-white people in those countries. Hello, Mexico (which is in North America) is about 75% brown or black people. The US is 40% black, brown or other.

I am a Christian for whom the religious side of Christmas and Easter is very important. I think non Christians celebrating these occasions is exactly the same as what you describe. Just because many people including your friends have been doing this for years doesn't make it any different. I'm fine with this although when I see drunks in the street at Christmas or some of the rude novelty gifts on sale for what I see as a religious celebration I cringe. As long as people are respectful I think this is fine, I'd love to attend an event like this myself.

I've lived in Bradford and Birmingham. Both cities have community events for all religious celebrations and everyone is welcome, regardless of religion or lack of it, ethnic background, whatever. They're a wonderful way of breaking down barriers and of sharing our respective cultures.

I was regularly invited by Muslim neighbours to join their family celebrations and if I was unable to go along because of work or family commitments, there was always food saved for me and sent to my house. They celebrated Christmas as well, in the same spirit as most of the UK population - with decorations, food and gifts.

don't think it's the same as Christmas as not many people I know go to church at all over Christmas so it can hardly be classed as a religious holiday anymore.

Not only is this statement complete rubbish - of course Christmas is religious - but as a Christian I also find it offensive. If this statement had been made about any other faith, there would be outrage!

People have celebrated diwali , holi, and various Sikh festivals in the UK since the 70s. In the case of Leicester and North London the diwali lights / holi celebrations have even become a tourist attraction. People should live and let live sometimes, honestly.

I wish I was a hippie mum celebrating Eid!

I think what the OP might be trying to get at is - is this middle class cultural appropriation by a bunch of people who are really right on. People who show a surface love of diversity whilst not really giving a damn about the underlying community.

My view is that even if their motives are a bit dodgy it is still a good thing that people mix as it stops Muslims being seen as a homogeneous mass but rather a collection of individuals.

I also find it offensive that you’ve decided Christmas isn’t a religious festival because lots of non-religious people celebrate it. Perhaps you’re concerned that Eid al-Fitr will be seen as a non-religious event if a lot of non-religious people celebrate it, and that will be offensive to Muslims? Why are you concerned about offending Muslims but not about offending Christians?

How about we all celebrate as many things as possible, together?

If anything, following your logic, I'd say that non-Christians celebrating Christmas without going to church is more offensive than celebrating Eid with Muslims. At least you're joining in with the religious festival. By your own admission, you've co-opted the religious festival of Christmas & cut out the religious bit.

FYI, as I understand it, the Easton event is aimed at the whole community as a way of breaking down barriers & promoting community relations. I know some white, Christian people who are very involved with the Muslim community who love to celebrate with their friends & help to organise such events.

YABU. I think that it's lovely that we celebrate other traditions and cultures. I'm Irish - half the world 'celebrates' our national holiday, St Patrick's Day, without going to Mass. And what is Christmas if not a stolen pagan festival celebrating the shortest day of winter and the coming of Spring?

I'm a Muslim convert and I really like the idea of non Muslims joining in the celebrations. There are also 2 Eids and only one of them is after Ramadan so the second Eid is not preceeded by any fasting. Eid really is just a fun day where people get dressed up in their best clothes and it's the tradition to pray the Eid prayer outside. It's a fun day mainly for the kids. Usually we go to the prayer in the morning and then we take the kids straight to the fun fair. It would be unusual (but good) if non Muslims took part in the prayer but the festival side of it is just a fun day it doesn't really have any religious basis. The religious side of it is the prayer early in the morning and it's meant to be a happy day and you can choose to spend it how you wish x