I was invited to attend an Eid al-Fitr (the last of the fast or the first of the days without, I can't remember) about maybe 10 years ago? The food was to die for, the company grand but then it happened. The King of Jordan always sends dates to the Mosque for this special meal. Dates and figs will both make me gag. I had to eat it and it was not a small date it was a very large date. I did it, had tears in my eyes. No one noticed thankfully. The dates were made to mean the final breaking of the Ramadan fast. It was very special.

Sorry, nothing about cooking here except to agree dates are a very special food to them when breaking fast and I remembered that wonderful evening.

Deglet Noor dates are the usual supermarket dates, smooth skinned and oblong, best for chopping up into date nut bread. The best eating dates are the Medjool variety, larger and rounder, with a wrinkled skin and sweeter fruit.

I might gag on a Deglet Noor but a Medjool will send me into paroxysms of delight.

I'm jealous of your Eid-al-Fitr meal, I know it's the most special feast of the entire year.

A friend of mine had a friend who had invited us both. It was chaos of the most wonderful kind, people all back and forth eating and bringing food and they were joyful. Some of them I knew, most not. It did not matter, they were so happy to share with us. There was no indication that they wanted anything but to share the joy of the end of Ramadan.

Actually I would say that it reminded me of a large family reunion where everyone brings food and hugs are frequently given and returned. <--Maybe the movie version, I don't have family like that.

Anyway, they were the Medjool dates I think. There is just something about them that I don't care for, sweet or not. They were very careful to remind us that these had been sent from the King of Jordan and very special, that is why I choked them down. Politely of course.

The very short prayer service they had at the end was beautiful in it's strangeness to me. They let us stand with the other women, outside of the actual praying of course. At that time I thought little about that since I was a guest I figured guests would never be allowed to join in something that solemn. It was not until later I thought about the division.

I hold it in my memory as a very special event.

Is to stop by Dateland, AZ and pick up a bag of Medjools. Both my wife and I eat them out of hand as a snack. Sometimes, I'm able to get to a farm stand and get fresh ones. Those are the best ever.

I had no idea. I have Muslim families in my new neighborhood. I had wondered when Ramadan was.

I wonder if I should wish them happy Ramadan like we do for Christmas?

and I sent an e.mail today 'Happy' Ramadan. I'm not sure, but as to Eid, I'd say probably. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Fitr

That's LATER.

For the link. That was helpful.

One year, he asked my why I had ashes smeared on my forehead, and I said that it was to mark Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. He said, "Well, happy Ash Wednesday."

For years we had a running joke, in which I would wish him a happy Yom Kippur and a happy Tisha B'Av; and he would wish me a happy Ash Wednesday and a happy Good Friday.

Unfortunately, he died a couple of years ago, and it was not a happy day.

I'm sorry for your loss.
I saw the husband of the family across the street last evening. yelled arcross the street and asked "Is it Ramadan?" just to confirm and I just hollered Happy Ramadan and he yelled back thank you.They are from Afghanistan and have been in the country about 15 years.
In the neighborhood about 5 months.

There are 2 other families that I know of on.my street who are Muslim. One is a Somali family. I've talked to the kids and the mom.