Ask Ali: Eid is a time for family, friends, festivities and food

Ali Al Saloom offers tips and advice for living and working in the UAE.

Dear Ali: I've had an amazing Ramadan experience here in Abu Dhabi and I've heard a lot about the festivity of Eid, but I don't know what it will look or feel like. Can you explain please? KU, Abu Dhabi

Dear KU: I'm glad that you enjoyed Ramadan. It's been such a great and lovely month, and as usual, sadly, it's ended so quickly.

This Eid is one of the two major festivities in Islam: Eid Al Adha ("large Eid", the sacrifice festivity) and Eid Al Fitr (the breaking of the fast festivity).

Eid Al Fitr is a three-day holiday that marks the end of Ramadan in almost all Muslim countries. It's also known as the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, which comes after Ramadan.

Since it's your first Eid, keep your heart and mind wide open to embrace this lovely event.

Almost all Emiratis visit their parents on the first day, greeting and gathering with their elders and friends.

We offer "Eidiyah", a monetary gift, by giving children a few dirhams. Even though many kids receive up to Dh1,000 as an Eidiyah, people are encouraged not to exaggerate with their giving.

Since it's the festivity of Fitr, that means that we don't fast during these three days. We enjoy delicious meals, either home-made or by going out with the family.

Shopping malls and many public entertainment venues will definitely be open, so expect them to be busy, but mainly after 5pm - we spend more of the first half of the days either receiving guests and welcoming them or travelling to visit other people.

How do you enjoy being part of Eid? Simply by wishing your Muslim colleagues and friends an "Eid Mubarak", which means a blessed festivity. You can also give kids some dirhams, especially those who live nearby your house and or your neighbourhood.

Dear Ali: How did nomads in Arabia navigate and manage to find their way in such an environment? HG, Al Ain

Dear HG: Nomads and the tribes who lived in Arabia in general would use nature as a way to navigate - the sun, the moon, footprints (animals and human) and the winds for direction. But the main guide has always been the stars.

In the desert, oases, sabkha (salt flats) and big hills are used as landmarks, and this explains why Bedouins never got lost.

Travelling during summer became more of an early evening habit, so that they could read the stars and avoid the heat. In winter, they travelled at around noon because of the cooler weather; these were usually the best logical options.

The Bedouins would also understand that it was always best to be near the sea during summer and, in winter, they would stay in the various oases or villages that they come across in the desert.

Arabia has been known for its trading routes for thousand of years and this evolved until only a few hundred years ago, as the discovery of oil brought better development to the region and roads started to be constructed everywhere.

Ali Al Saloom is a cultural adviser and public speaker from the UAE. Follow //www.ask-ali.com">www.ask-ali.com to ask him a question and to find his guidebooks to the UAE, priced at Dh50.

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