LixyChick,

No Mam, I am not Muslim. I once lived in Khartoum, Sudan, and I lived and worked in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia back in the ‘80s. What little Arabic I still remember, my respect for Islam, and some of my mannerisms I picked up then.

Muslims observe two major holidays. Eid al-Fitr is the more well known of the two, and it begins at the end of the annual fasting month of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha is the other, and it commemorates the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca (and Medina if you can work it in). It is common during these Holy Days for Muslims give thanks to Allah for His bounty and mercy, celebrate, and wish each other well.

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are to Muslims as Lent and Easter were to, and still are to some, Christians; a period of purification followed by a Feast Day. I give the nod to Christians on his one, as they incorporate their central dogma into their Easter rites.

Eid al-Adha is a uniquely Muslim holiday, as it is tied to the conclusion of the Hajj. In carrying out this obligation, they fulfill one of the five "pillars" of Islam, or central religious duties of the believer. Hey, if you’ve just done Hajj, you’ve just done good, and it is partying time!

I know this was more answer than you may have been looking for, but it seemed to be the right time to speak of them.

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Eudaimonia