[ampaterry]

Following the last day of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar, the Islamics mark the first day of the month of Shawal. This day is called Id Al-Fitr, which means “The festival of breaking the fast”. or just Id for short. Five of the twelve Islamic holidays are keyed to Ramadan, the other seven are scattered through the rest of the year. The first day after Ramadan is a day of celebration. Since they fasted every day during Ramadan, and also abstained from marital sex for the entire month, this is the day they celebrate the end of that.

Devout Muslims begin this celebration by taking a bath, using deodorant and putting on clean clothes today. Note that these practices are specified for today, which indicates that bathing, deodorant and clean clothes are not the normal daily routine for them.
Tonight, they will have parties. No drinking and no dancing, but they will have soft drinks, eat sherbet, and hug each other three times as specified in the Koran. During these hugs, I would think that the bath, deodorant and clean clothes are appreciated.

The Koran also specifies they must give alms to the poor today. The gift must be free of liens, and is satisfied with giving 3 ½ pounds of wheat flour, or the value of that. Checking Sam's Club, I find that 25 pounds of wheat flour costs $7.10, which makes this gift less than a dollar. Now it IS specified that this is the minimum they are to give, so they exceed the requirement if they give a whole dollar. But of course, that is from each one, so a family with three kids gives five bucks to the poor per year. It does have to be free and clear, though.

Later tonight, some will go to visit cemeteries, often staying for hours or even camping out overnight there to honor their ancestors. I rather like this particular practice -

Jesus indicates that cleanliness was such a common daily thing that he chastises Simon for not supplying him with water to wash his feet :
Luke 7:44 (KJV);
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

I thought of a dozen pithy ways to end this, but I got control of myself and will simply close it with an appeal to God that he would have mercy on all those that follow a false religion.

And may He bless each one here -