This is the last day of Eid al-Fitr. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims observe a three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking). On the day of Eid, Muslims gather early in the morning in outdoor locations or mosques to perform the Eid prayer. This consists of a sermon followed by a short congregational prayer. This was two days ago at about 5:00 am. The prayers were being sent over loud-speakers to the neighborhood. There were thousands of people congregated at the Green Mosque (the mosque in my neighborhood) and cars everywhere. There are probably thousands of mosques in Kuwait with the Grand Mosque downtown holding over 10,000 people. (I guess I am kind of getting used to the prayers over the loudspeakers since they take place five times a day with the earliest at 4:00am) and two taking place during the school day.
After the Eid prayer, Muslims usually scatter to visit various family and friends, give gifts and money (especially to children), and contact to distant relatives to give well-wishes for the holiday. As said, these activities traditionally continue for three days. In most Muslim countries, the entire 3-day period is an official government/school holiday. At my school we have the week off for a holiday, but many schools in town particularly the public schools won't even start until after Eid. Many people use this time to travel. Not many teachers around this week either. There are a lot of close travel destinations of which teachers and families take advantage. Many though travel to far destinations as well.
Eid follows Ramadan which in the Islam Religion is the holiest month of the year. During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is a lunar calendar, (because of this, Ramadan changes every year), Muslims from all continents unite in a time of fasting and spiritual reflection. The annual fast of Ramadan is considered one of the five "pillars" of Islam which identify whether one is a Muslim or not.
Muslims who are physically able are required to fast from food and drink and give up other negative behaviors such as smoking and temptations each day of the entire month, from sunrise to sunset. The evenings are spent enjoying family and community meals (Ishtar), engaging in prayer and spiritual reflection, and reading from the Qu'ran. Later they all go out at about 8:00 pm and the roads are packed and the malls are packed. Most of the stores during Ramadan are closed between about 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm, so getting things accomplished this month followed by Eid can be challenging. Most government offices, banks etc. are only open from about 9:00 am to noon or 1:00 when everyone else happens to be at work. Additionally all restaurants are closed all day until 6:30pm when the fast ends.
Most of the students at school were fasting as well except the younger kids, so it is a bit more challenging as a teacher because you know the students are not as focused on school since the fast obviously effects them.
In Kuwait it is illegal to eat or drink in public during the fasting hours even if you are not Muslim. I don't know if they enforce it but you can go to jail for a month or be charged 100KD about $340.00. This is not a Muslim rule, just a Kuwaiti law.
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