Aïd El Fitr Moubarak

Aïd el Fitr (orAïd el Seghir, the small celebration, in reference to l’Aïd el Kebir, which in 2006 will happen the same day as New year) is the end of Ramadan. Today, for the countries following Saudi Arabia, tomorrow for Morocco.

After the imam spot the very small bit of the new moon, starts the great celebration of the end of the fast, for three full days. During these days, one puts on his best clothes, one eats (it's forbidden to fast, even if some, after the celebration, fast for sixmore days), one does not work. Everyone who cans goes in his family, and women assault tailor's shops to get, last minute, the celebration dresses, caftans, takchitas (a sort of caftan whit an over-dress of embroidered light fabric)...

So, Aïd el Fitr is also a little bit children's celebration, they receive new clothes, usually some traditionnal moroccan ones (baldi), to please the grand-parents, and some modern ones (roumi), because moroccan children do prefer, like anywhere else, jeans and sport shoes !

Neighbours visit neighbours and settle disputes, no disagreement must remain. Almonds are given, with the specific Zakat-el-Fitr, almond the the break-fast.

And some families even use the opportunity of being together to celebrate weddings !

Sweets of Ramadan, savoured in the evening, are outranked by the traditionnal recipes of Aïd El Fitr, like dates stuffed with nuts, makroud (small cakes made with butter and almonds), Krachel (biscuits with anise and sesame) or Zlabia, sort of thread of sugar fried in oil and flavoured with cardamone.

A small preparation of Aïd el Kebir…