Ramadan Eid Celebration
The holy month of Ramadan, a time of reflection, patience, and spiritual growth, is coming to a close. We are filled with joy and excitement to invite you to our annual Ramazan Bayramı Kutlaması (Eid al-Fitr Celebration)!
Also known as Şeker Bayramı, this three-day festival is one of the most cherished holidays in the Turkish and Islamic world. It is a time for forgiveness, gratitude, sharing, and most importantly, coming together as a community. For our children growing up abroad, this celebration is a beautiful way to experience the warmth, traditions, and spirit of their cultural heritage.
What is Ramazan Bayramı?
For our students and friends who are new to this beautiful tradition, here is what Ramazan Bayramı is all about:
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A Reward After Fasting: Bayram marks the end of Ramadan, a month where many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The Bayram is a spiritual reward and a time of celebration.
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The "Festival of Sweets" (Şeker Bayramı): It gets this sweet name because it is traditional to visit friends, family, and neighbors, who offer their guests delicious sweets, chocolates, Turkish Delight (lokum), and baklava.
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A Time for Connection: The core of Bayram is about strengthening bonds. Younger people visit their elders to pay respects by kissing their hand and placing it on their forehead. Elders give their blessings and often small gifts or pocket money ("bayram harçlığı") to the children.
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Peace and Forgiveness: It is a time to let go of past grievances, forgive one another, and start anew with peace in our hearts.
At our school celebration, we aim to capture this joyful and unifying spirit!
Our Celebration Program:
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Welcome & The Meaning of Bayram: A short, child-friendly talk from our teachers about the significance of Ramazan Bayramı and its beautiful traditions.
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Student Presentations:
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Our younger classes will sing beloved Bayram şarkıları (Bayram songs) like "Ramazan Geldi" and "Bayramla Gelen."
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Our older students will recite poems about sharing, unity, and the joy of Bayram.
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Traditional Bayram Greeting: We will practice the traditional Bayram greeting. Children will have the chance to respectfully greet their teachers and elders by kissing their hands and receiving blessings and well-wishes in return.
Dress Code: We encourage children to come dressed in their best clothes or in traditional outfits to add to the festive spirit! It is common for children to wear new clothes for Bayram.
This event is a wonderful opportunity for our entire school family to connect, create happy memories, and pass on our beautiful traditions to the next generation.
We can't wait to celebrate with you!