In 1993, my mother made it a point to enthusiastically celebrate Eid. I was only two years old and she was still settling into her new life in America.

Having left her home, her family, and her friends in Gaza City one year before I was born, my mother found it challenging to publicly maintain her cultural and religious identity, the very same identity already threatened by occupation. She never lost grasp of her religiosity nor did she ever lose sight of her hope for self-sovereignty — a fundamental tenet defining the Palestinian identity — but it became increasingly tricky for her to emulate her Palestinian traditions in her American setting.

At home in Palestine, Eid marks a truly festive time of the year. Fawanees, or colorful lanterns, line the streets. Schools close for the holidays and their grateful students march through the city avenues, singing songs and nursery rhymes throughout the night. Firecrackers go off and family members gather to exchange stories, gifts, and money. Worshipers spill into the streets after Eid prayers and spend the remainder of the afternoon showering one another with kind words and well-wishes. [Read more...]