Happy Eid al Fitr!!!

For the Muslims, for us MBAs*, or living in Muslim-majority places, for those of us who are just happy about anything involving food, presents, and friends (and maybe even family, though we might not admit it).

Eid al Fitr are the holidays that the holy fasting month of Ramadhan culminate in, and it is a blast. There are two official days, but really, it's the evening before (like Christmas eve), two days of, and everybody and offices still take the day after that off, too.

Firecrackers and fireworks everywhere, people singing, people in the streets at all hours of day and night, massive travel home just like Thanksgiving, sales, presents and everybody has open houses and you just go buffet-hopping. Conversely, if it's the day you choose to host, you get to eat and drink with every new round of guests

You greet each other with "Minal eidin wa faidzin" which means, "congratulations on your victory," and here in Indonesia, also a phrase that means, "Please forgive me any offences I have caused you."

And of course there are special holiday foods only made or available during this time ...

May the chowing commence.

Oh, right, I suppose I should have waxed eloquent about the spiritual aspects of Ramadhan, and so forth, but ... you really should ask a practicing Muslim about that. I'm all about the holiday.

*Muslim By Association