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.

@TheAverageJuror you can stop trying to paint me as a racist right now.

I didn't read it like that at all, AverageJuror posed some pretty interesting questions!
As you say All I'm asking is are non Muslims right to celebrate Eid without fasting how would that work in a mixed religion household like average's?

Well some religion. I have yet to be approached by Wiccans trying to tell me the real deal about Odin. Or Buddhists trying to sell Nirvana to me hmm

I dont think it appeals as well.
There is a Beltane festival in Glastonbury every year. Everyone is encouraged to take part from all walks of life. Now thats where the hippies live.

I was simply asking if we non Muslims are invited to the Eid celebrations or whether we've just invited ourselves (as British have throughout history.)

I think if you’d simply asked it like that, you’d have got a very different tone to the responses tbh.

OP I didn't try to paint you as racist. Just an FYI one can be a racist no matter what their heritage or skin colour is. As non British, albeit white person, I have encountered remarks from non white people as well as white. Mainly "Go back to Poland". I am not even from Poland🤦‍♀️
You started with "white hippie mums" attending local Eid. That's deregatory. Then you followed by
yet non Muslims (many people who don't even live in the area) are assuming it's for them (because the world is centred around them.)
If you haven't realised there is a MASSIVE initiative all over UK to bring people together and get to know each other's cultures and religions in a hope it will lower the amount of racism around. Liverpool had over 4000 people for Iftar during one event.
These, amongst other, points are why he asked whether you are for segregation in general🤷‍♀️ Some people are. I heard that I shouldn't be with someone darker and muslim, "ya know coz like... Ya know... It's not good to mix things" from people who probably never properly spoke with a muslim.

You still haven't answered my DH's questions. Nor mine.
Can we celebrate each other's holidays? Since none of us is doing the other holiday's "hard bit"?
And why "hippie mums"?

And I agree with @RafaIsTheKingOfClay. If you asked without all that stuff around. Just that simple question this thread would work out differently. Tbh though. It's enough to... Well, read the invitation and you get your answer... For example this one.

Great. Now I have "luxury halal holidays" ads popping up here😂

@TheAverageJuror Eid Mubarak to Mr TheAverageJuror, I hope he’s suitably celebrated-out by now

The last Eid party I went to was few years ago when I was pregnant, it was an utter joy to go to a party where a) I wasn’t the only person not drinking and b) the host’s mother in law (who is one of those home cooks of legend) spent the entire event forcefeeding me second helpings of everything ‘for the baby’

@KnitFastDieWarm 😂 I always leave size bogger when I am visiting his family. And I am not even pregnant! 😂
Thank you. He's been at work. Lamb and shisha have to wait till tonight.

For anyone who would feel bad attending Eid.
This is directly from Eid festivals organisation's website. So don't worry and go and explore😁

I 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.

If you are in Easton then you probably know St Nick's church. It is packed with worshippers at Christmas, and most other times of the year. Christmas is absolutely still a religious holiday.

@drizzleinbrizzle lots of people go to church at Christmas. Most congregations are depleting rapidly the rest of the year.

Not rtft but surely "joining in with the fun bits" is what most of us are doing with every religion nowadays, unless you're Amish perhaps? Not seeing an issue here at all, I'm not Muslim but am married to one. I have a great time at Eid. They have a great time at Christmas. Being flexible and refraining from policing which aspects of faith we are and aren't allowed to celebrate is probably the key to being respectful here, OP.

Indeed Drizzle. It's standing room only for Christmas and Easter where I am. They add extra seats everywhere they can be squeezed in. If you want a seat you have to get there half an hour early.

On regular Sundays you can sit comfortably with your handbag on the pew beside you, but there are still over 1,000 at each Mass.

I think it’s great. I’m a Christian and attend mass regularly and It makes me happy when the Hindu family across the road (who obviously don’t attend Christian services regularly) put up their Christmas tree and the ‘Santa Please Stop Here’ sign goes out. IMO It’s all part of belonging to one culture whilst not forgetting your own.

www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/cc-eid-ul-adha-20180820-story.html
An Eid-al-Adha anecdote from Carroll County, Maryland, USA.

You can invite yourself respectfully.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/muslim-charity-charities-christmas-homelessness-volunteer-a8117116.html
Muslim charities' contribution to Britain.

I took part in two iftar’s this year and I wasn’t allowed to leave without enough left overs to feed DD and I until Christmas. In my experience, when it comes to Eid, the more the merrier approach is taken. Hell, the King of the Netherlands rocked up to an iftar and everyone was very receptive to his presence.

Inclusivity and welcoming people is the heart of Islam and Christianity. The Muslims and Christians likely won't be bothered about people joining their celebrations - the problem is the commercialisation of all these religious festivals which detracts from the real meaning.

I live in a Muslim country, & I do fast during Ramadan.

I'm an atheist, but I love the idea of a laid back month which is simultaneously a good way to appreciate your life (when you've been on your feet teaching all day with a dry mouth, that slurp of cool water in the evening is amazing), & also an excuse not to run yourself ragged - everyone is super chilled & nice to each other.

I've been to, & hosted, iftar with so many of my friends this month. It's been fab.

None of my Muslim friends would expect me to fast, & I'd be welcome to eat with them either way.

Just welcomed my first booze delivery in a month (officially the country is dry during Ramadan, so the off licences close although big hotels will serve alcohol to expats). Delivery guy & I wished each other Eid Mubarak & he told me to enjoy my 🍷.

No stress, no drama. It's all good.

Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating 🙏

I will be proud to join my friends again at the Grand Iftar despite not being Muslim- this article talks about the effect the event has had on communities here in Bristol. It’s a real opportunity for all people to come together and all are welcomed.

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/grand-iftar-bristol-2019-easton-2916562

drizzleinbrizzle lots of people go to church at Christmas. Most congregations are depleting rapidly the rest of the year.

I don't think that is the case at all. Certainly not at my church.

Besides you stated earlier that you did not know many who even went to church at Christmas so it could not be classes as a religious ceremony anymore. Now you are saying lots of people do go at Christmas. Following your logic is quite difficult tbh.

I think inclusive Eid is great!

I still think attending comes down to simple good manners, like most things. If you are invited, you may attend; politely and respectfully, taking care not to overstay your welcome.

Your original discomfort can only be understood as being aimed at the hosts, for inviting people whose suitability as participants you are questioning. Why would the hosts do that?

And indeed, you tell us you believe the hosts must be proselytizing.

Because in your experience, of one sub-genre of one religion, that is the only reason all and any people of faith invite anyone to any celebration. (You've slipped up here by equating events in church buildings with Eid celebrations in people's homes, parks and community centres).

Maybe there's a lesson in neighbourliness, friendliness and community spirit in this for you?

Incidentally, in my area, there has been at least one very large, new, Christian church built in the last 10-15 years, to accommodate a thriving evangelical congregation. That's not a depletion in Christian congregations, it is a shift in the style of worship and demographic composition of the congregation.

I remember Nish Kumar saying that Sikh weddings are the ones to go to- Hindu ones are just admin followed by lunch.

The Muslims I know aren't terribly orthodox about Ramadan and almost certainly wouldn't care about some infidels white hippies joining Eid.

The religions of the book can peacefully co-exist. Really. Provided there's mostly sensible people involved.

UABU cake breaks down barriers.

Guy at work brought mini feast to celebrate, everyone joined in. I was brought up Catholic & had no clue about Eid until my 20s.

Just feels a bit snidey to judge them & set rules about who can party together under what circumstance.

We go, you'll find that majority of Muslims will invite you with open arms and love for you to join. During Ramadan we receive all sorts of treats and when I cook something fancy or special I too send food over for Muslim neighbours to enjoy at iftar.

Nothing greater than communities mixing!

Madridinmymemories

@Guadalquivir19 where did I ever say anything about race? I said non Muslims in my post.

You said 'WHITE hippie mum mates'. Which distinguishes between skin colour. But skin colour doesn't dictate religious belief.

You're ignorant to make the comment in the first place and more so to maintain that you didn't!