Free wrestling and processions for the sultans.. the strangest customs of celebrating Eid Al-Fitr

Comoros… Freestyle wrestling

The feast in the Comoros is linked to the practice of free wrestling. With the beginning of the feast days, competitions are held between wrestlers nominated from different regions, groups, and professional federations, to compete for the wrestling champion’s cup at the level of the three islands, namely: Anjouan, Moheli, and Grande Comore. These competitions are attended by large numbers of men and women alike over the three days of Eid.

The custom of “giving a hand” is considered one of the most famous customs associated with Eid in the Comoros, where Muslims offer greetings and congratulations on the feast to relatives and friends, and every Comorian asks another: Did you give so-and-so the hand? I mean, did you congratulate him on the holiday?

The holiday in the Comoros is linked to social occasions, where weddings and engagement parties are held, and the first Comorians to visit it on the days of Eid are the wife's family, the sheikhs, and the parents. Heads of lunar families allow their daughters to go out on the feast, unusually for all days of the year, as an unmarried girl is not allowed to leave her father’s house except for the feast and for marriage.

One of the Eid foods in the Comoros is “botrad”, which is rice and milk with minced meat.

Mozambique... The handshake race on Eid:

One of the common customs on Eid in Mozambique is that after performing the Eid prayer, Muslims race to shake hands with each other, as they promise that the first to start shaking hands with the other will be the winner of the best of the whole Eid. in peace”

Somalia… the right of Eid

In the Democratic Republic of Somalia, the feast is received by shooting, as is the shooting with the advent of Ramadan. Somali families are preparing to buy new clothes for the children. On the morning of the feast day, and after the completion of the prayer, visits and congratulations to the families begin. Often the calves are slaughtered during the feast and the meat is distributed to the relatives and the poor.

Nigeria… processions of princes and sultans

“God is great, and praise be to God a lot.” Nigerians of different dialects utter the takbeer during the Eid al-Fitr prayer that they perform in the middle of the jungle. They wear uniforms with their children and women, where there is a trend among professional and cooperative groups to detail new clothes and uniform shapes on the holidays.The Muslims of Nigeria are keen To pray outside the mosques, in a distinct atmosphere than their performance in mosques.

Among the distinctive features of Eid al-Fitr in Nigeria are the processions of princes and sultans that are awaited by the Muslim and non-Muslim Nigerian people; Where they stand on the sides of the road to watch the wonderful processions of the Emir of the city, which includes a group of his ministers and his aides, and also includes a band of artists who entertain the Emir on his way to the mosque with types of Tawasheh and folk moulds.

As for the popular dishes that Nigerians are keen to serve to guests during Eid, they include “Amala” and “Iba”, and each of them is a rich and delicious dish.

Ethiopia…. and mufu

Perhaps the distinctive aspect of the Eid in Ethiopia from other African and other Islamic countries is the provision of cars and taxis to transport the worshipers to prayer places for free throughout the country, where Eid al-Fitr prayers are held in open squares in Ethiopia.

One of the most famous dishes of Eid for the Muslims of Ethiopia is “mofu”, which is preferred by the people of villages and rural areas, and the feast has a popular drink, “Abashi”, and Muslims are keen to allocate Eid al-Fitr with a sacrifice similar to Eid al-Adha.