Every year, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr after fasting during the month of Ramadan. You may be familiar with the term Eid al-Fitr. It is interesting to exploring the Eid Al-Fitr traditions, which is very popular and synonymous in Indonesia.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period in the month of Ramadan and is often interpreted as a day of victory. On Eid, Muslims forgive each other. These traditions vary from country to country.
But what does Eid really mean? To find out the answer, let’s take a look at the full explanation of the meaning and unique traditions of Eid in Indonesia through this article.
Meaning of Eid al-Fitr
Eid is not just a day of celebration, new clothes or other new things. Although it is technically recommended for Muslims to wear new clothes, this is not the true meaning of Eid.
Moreover, Eid al-Fitr is also interpreted as a form of introspection, a form of gratitude and joy. In this case, it means that every Muslim is encouraged to look inward and return to the essence of Islamiyah.
This means that Muslims must return to purity after fasting for 1 month of Ramadan, which is then concluded by paying Zakat Fitrah as a form of gratitude and sharing with others and forgiving each other for mistakes made.
Exploring the Eid Al-Fitr traditions
Every region has its own traditions in celebrating Eid al-Fitr, just like Muslims in Indonesia. You may already be familiar with mudik, takbiran, buying new clothes, and so on. These are just a few of the traditions commonly practiced by Muslims in Indonesia.
There are many different special traditions with unique stories behind them. Here are some Eid traditions in Indonesia that are still practiced today:
1. Exploring the Mudik Tradition
Mudik is a special Eid tradition for Indonesians. This tradition usually takes place a few days or even weeks before Eid. This tradition is a place for families who migrate to different regions to stay in touch with each other.
The mudik tradition is evolving over time, especially with the increasing urbanization in Indonesia’s big cities. The media also plays an important role in strengthening the image of the homecoming tradition as an integral part of the Eid celebration.
2. Takbiran Night
The next Eid tradition that is synonymous with Muslims in Indonesia is Takbiran Night. Usually, takbiran is performed on the night of Eid al-Fitr, where people echo the sound of takbir while beating the drum with great enthusiasm.
However, the takbiran parade is often different in each region, depending on the traditions passed down from generation to generation in the area.
3. THR (Tunjangan Hari Raya)
This Eid tradition is carried out by adult family members with income who then distribute envelopes of money to their younger siblings. No wonder THR is a tradition that children look forward to before Eid al-Fitr. In Indonesia, the tradition of THR has existed since 1951, starting with THR distribution policy only to civil servants (PNS), until it grew over time.
The tradition of distributing money to family, friends, and loved ones is also commonly referred to as THR distribution.
4. Exploring the Halal Bi Halal
Gathering from house to house is also closely associated with Eid al-Fitr in Indonesia. In general, the gathering activities, or halal bi halal, are held on the first day and the second day of Eid al-Fitr. It is a moment during Eid to visit family, friends or neighbors to forgive each other and celebrate the holiday.
These are some of the Eid traditions that are similar to those practiced by most Muslims in Indonesia. Carrying out these traditions requires careful preparation in advance, including when buying basic needs before Eid, such as buying new clothes, basic necessities, THR, and others.