Re: Christmas
And for the record.....
We give gifts on birthdays and on both Eids as well.
As Maroush mentioned....
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Giving.... that's what we teach our children.
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Re: Christmas
^ very well said .... i always teach our kids to share and give presnts
Do Christians give gifts at our Eid?
At Eid I didn't get one Eid card or "Happy Eid" from my Non-Muslim friends and colleagues even though all of them knew it was our "Christmas".
I gave lots of Christmas cards to my "Christian" friends and colleagues and I got lots back but I would have prefered cards back at Eid instead because I don't celebrate Christmas.
I respect Christmas and the Christian faith and I say Merry Christmas and give Christmas cards to those that celebrate it but I wouldn't celebrate it myself because I'm not a Christian.
Just as I wouldn't expect a Christian to practice my faith I don't want to practice anyone elses.
Everyone has their own religious festivals and ours are the two Eids, Jews have Hanukkah, Sikhs have Vaisakhi etc. It would be impractical to celebrate every festival in the world.
I would rather have my roast Turkey dinner at Eid (yes we have added it to the Eid menu at our place).
It's a shame that a lot of Muslim children in the West celebrate Christmas with more passion than their own Eid, that's the fault of their parents who don't make Eid merry enough, in Pakistan or Egypt we can take our religion for granted, in Muslim countries the Bazaars are lit with lamps and the streets come to life with color at Eid.. But over here Eid is just another day unless we make it special, we should give Eid cards and gifts, decorate our houses with lights/Islamic-designs/tinsel/flowers, cook food that the kids will actually enjoy (ABCD kids don't want sawaiyaan or laddu, they want chocolate gatteau), organise something for the kids like a fair or a game at Muslim cummunity center etc.
A lot of parents don't bother instilling a strong sense of identity in their kids and then the kids grow up confused, detached from their identity and even ashamed with an inferiority complex.
Re: Christmas
My Christian friends and colleagues do remember to wish me Eid Mubarak and I have received gifts and cards too. I'm surprised that you don't receive even a congratulatory wish from those around you. Perhaps there is something missing in your relationship? I don't know.
It is impractical to celebrate every festival but not impractical to teach your kids about them and shown them what the experience is about. Doing this keeps them from growing up like "kuain kay maindak" and coming across as narrow-minded fanatics that are fearful of losing their identity and religion at the slightest indiscretion.
I find it hard to believe that children, be they Muslim or other, can celebrate any event with "passion". I would hazard to guess that what they show can only be termed as enthusiasm because they see the excitement in the atmosphere around them when they are living in a city that is predominantly non-Muslim.
I can't speak for everyone but we make every effort to make Eid very special for our kids. We take time off work and ensure that there are loads of fun activities happening. We give them gifts (both cash and wrapped presents) so that they look forward to the day. We decorate the house and cook specific foods that are restricted for Eid only....just like turkey is reserved for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We have chaand raat melas that we attend.....there are food, clothing and mehndi stalls.
I don't think that Eid is any less significant than Christmas.
Re: Christmas
@ nosherwan, ya i kinda agree about the confusion part if things are not explained early on. my 4 yr old was wondering about santa claus, why we don't have a christmas tree and what we are getting her for christmas because the last few weeks in school thats what they have been talking about.
i thought it would be harder to explain to a 4 yr old about differences but i'm glad i did it now, they are pretty darn smart at this age and more open to adjustments. and i agree, if our eids are made to be just as fun and festive, kids won't even care about christmas or feel left out.
Muzna I'm also against the "kunwey ke mendak" mentality and being reclusive. I myself have grown up with friends from different religions: Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Athiests but we all had our own religious traditions and none of us felt compelled to compromise on our own religions or practice each others religion even though we respected each others right to practice what they wanted...
We in Great Britain believe in multi-culturalism rather than the melting-pot culture, we believe in integration rather than assimilation. In our country a Sikh wouldn't be expected to eat Halal/Kosher meat to appease a Muslim/Jewish countryman and a Muslim wouldn't be required to attend Mass to appease a Catholic. We have freedom in this country in the truest sense.
It seems that in the USA you don't have the freedom of multi-culturalism, you are expected to assimilate, even if that's not directly said it's expected of everyone. We have true freedom in Britain, much more than Europe or America, Europe and America harp on about their freedoms but it's all superficial and hypocritical, one is expected to compromise and assimilate. It's the same as in India where Muslims are only slightly tolerated if they follow a Vishwa-Hindu-Parsad dictated Islam.
I'm not against Christmas, I think it's wonderful when Christians celebrate it and I've wished merry Christmas to every white/Christian person I've come across today but we all have our own festivals, Muslims should celebrate Eid, Jews Hanukkah etc.
I commend you for making Eid special for your kids but a lot of Muslim parents in the West don't, their kids have tonnes more fun at Christmas whilst Eid is hardly celebrated with a quick breakfast of sawaiyan, embarrasing clothes (flappy shalwar-kamiz or gaudy sherwanis) and a bit of eidi, and then both or one of the parents heads to work after eid prayers.,,
...There's no Eid carols, no lights and decorations, no wrapped presents, no cards, no games/fun-fairs, no nice food (no choc cake or turkey/cranberry-sauce/roasties, just horrid desi food which is too sweet/too-hot/too-greasy), no joy...
Its courtesy when the supervisor and or co-workers give gifts. I do the same.
Its not something to expect in return but its just nice and they are celebrating their holidays like we do.
Re: Christmas
@Nosherwan .. can't believe a smart cookie living in GS.. way to go.. im wit ya!
Re: Christmas
I don't really see Christmas as being entirely Christian anymore. It's become more of a winter celebration - tree, snow, snowflakes, candycanes, etc - all motifs that have nothing to do with worshipping Christ as son of God.
It's the same as in India where Muslims are only slightly tolerated if they follow a Vishwa-Hindu-Parsad dictated Islam.
Slightly tolerated if they follow VHP dictated islam?? Can you expand on this please?I have always believed that India was more about integration than assimilation.
My children receive gifts from their father's side of the family.
We give gifts to those couples who give gifts to us.
We give gifts to Mr Maroush's work colleagues.
We give gifts to the childrens' school teachers.
We give gifts to those children who give gifts to our children.
Giving.... that's what we teach our children.
Giving ONLY??? What kind of Pakistani are you? You are teaching them the WRONG thing. It's all about TAKING. Yes, take, take take! Drum it in to those kids!
GIVING is only legitimate if it's part of the bribery process, and don't u forget it.
I don't really see Christmas as being entirely Christian anymore. It's become more of a winter celebration - tree, snow, snowflakes, candycanes, etc - all motifs that have nothing to do with worshipping Christ as son of God.
Yeah more commercial and consumer oriented. After all, the companies do have to make a profit.
I don't really see Christmas as being entirely Christian anymore. It's become more of a winter celebration - tree, snow, snowflakes, candycanes, etc - all motifs that have nothing to do with worshipping Christ as son of God.
Peace PyariCgudia
Yeah ... umm ... It is returning to it's pre-Christian state.
Christmas is older than Christianity ...
You knew that right?
Peace PyariCgudia
Yeah ... umm ... It is returning to it's pre-Christian state.
Christmas is older than Christianity ...
You knew that right?
touché
Re: Christmas
Yeah that's what I'm saying...however I wouldn't say it is returning to its Pagan roots...I don't see anyone worshipping deities on that day...unless you're seeing things psyah.
Its definitely becoming more commercial and a reason for selling stuff. I just see it as a holiday, now, for the winter season. Just like we have Basant in Pakistan...we see it more as a celebration of spring, but it has its pagan roots too, doesn't it? Same thing.
Re: Christmas
so pcg, did u get any cool presents? 
Yeah that's what I'm saying...however I wouldn't say it is returning to its Pagan roots...I don't see anyone worshipping deities on that day...unless you're seeing things psyah.
Its definitely becoming more commercial and a reason for selling stuff. I just see it as a holiday, now, for the winter season. Just like we have Basant in Pakistan...we see it more as a celebration of spring, but it has its pagan roots too, doesn't it? Same thing.
Ditto with Nowruz.
You heeard it wrong .. I said I used UPS, not Poo Pee S ..
get it Poo Pee S and it rhymes with UPS..
ok ok .. sorry .. rude joke that was , I know 
Re: Christmas
noshie, you need to chill-axe out. if you are that bothered about Eid Cards you should emigrate to Arabia.