This post comes to us from Rana Bacaloni, the creator of Eid Creations, a wholesale Islamic party supply store online. Read more about Rana and the vision of her company at the end of this post.
I remember when we were young, Eid was such a fun event. It was a time to gather with the family and play with all our cousins. I loved the idea of wearing new clothes and getting gifts from the adults, which always consisted of an envelope full of money. There was definitely instant gratification when receiving those envelopes, but now that I look back, I wish I had received wrapped gifts like those my neighbors got during their holidays. I remember their excitement while waiting and guessing what was inside. I wished I had that long-awaited suspense during my Eid, but in my case, I never knew what to do with the money I received. I would give it to my mom to hold on to and I can’t recall what would happen to it after that….
As I grew older, Eid morphed into going to prayers followed by an outing to a restaurant or meeting with family friends.
I had to wait until I had children of my own to see Eid through their eyes again. I made a big deal out of it- a very big deal- and I opted for the wrapped gifts. I also made decorations, which I hung all over the house in lieu of those sumptuous meals that used to engulf our entire house for days. Those days were fun and brought me some happiness. My children are grown up now and to avoid going through Eid withdrawal, I have decided to make Eid an adult affair.
If you are in my situation, here are some tips on how to make an Eid party as special for adults as it is for kids.
Make a Guest List
First decide on the list of people you would like to have at your party. Eid is a good time to rekindle with old friends that you do not see on regular basis, or friends like you, have grown up children. It is also nice to invite neighbors.
Secure the Party’s Location
Since Eid will be during summer for a few years to come, it would be nice to have an outside event if you have a backyard and the weather permits. If you think it’ll be too hot during the day, make it an evening event.
Determine the Food You’ll Serve
After you’ve squared away your guest list and the venue, your next action item is to square away the food. If you’re a good cook then this is the time to show off your culinary skills. You can pick dishes that were passed on through your family to try to recreate those nostalgic times of your youth; if cooking just isn’t your thing, catering or semi-homemade food from bulk stores like Costco is another option. Barbecue your meats and accompany them with a tossed salad, homemade or store-bought guacamole, salsa, etc. and voila! You now have a great meal.
Not up for heavy food? Do hors d’oeuvres. You can get recipes online or from books, like “The Essential Finger Food Cookbook”. The recipes are easy and not very elaborate!
Line up the Party Decor
Last but not least are party decorations, my favorite topic. When I think of Eid, I think lanterns, lots of them filling the skyline. Paper lanterns are easy to find in any party store. Pick either a multi-color theme like the one below which I found online, or or stick to one strong color for that “wow” factor.
Or you can opt for the sophisticated look with a gold and silver theme.
Or a classic look with white, which never goes out of style.
Use simple solid color tablecloth from whatever you have at home or you can find cheap ones at Home Goods and Ross.
It used to be that china was the way to go if you had a formal event but nowadays it’s more than acceptable to use pretty paper plates. If you want to make them stand out, use chargers that you can find at dollar stores. The same is true with linen and paper napkins. You can find beautiful designs at party stores, which can impress just as much as the cloth linen kind.
I am not much of a paper cup person but you can definitely use them or you can use plastic clear cups or even glass ones that you can find inexpensively at Ikea or dollar stores. You can get colored glass such as the cobalt blue, red or gold to add a nice effect, especially if you are decorating with those specific colors.
Last but not least are the centerpieces. If you are having your party outside use fresh cut flowers from your garden, or mini herb vases either from your garden or Trader Joes, which carry inexpensive mini plants. You can put lanterns on the tables, too. For centerpieces I never spend more then a few dollars, as I usually use items that I have on hand at my house, but for a change will look out for them at budget stores.
Remember that food will take up space on the table, as well so there’s no need to go out all out with centerpieces. Also, when putting flowers on the table, try to keep them low as to not obstruct guests’ view. A successful party is one where people are having interesting conversations and are bonding, because at the end of the day, that’s what Eid is all about- a time to share happy moments and make new memories with the people we love and care most about.
Now for the Giveaway…
Eid Creations is giving away one 6-Piece Lantern Kit to a randomly-selected winner, which includes the following types of lanterns:
Here how to enter:
1. Comment below to let us know if and how you’ve held an all-adult Eid gathering and what you would do to make it as special, elegant and fun as those that include large families and children.
2. Read through the Official MHK Giveaway guidelines, as entering indicates you have done so and agree to its terms.
Giveaway ends at 12:01 AM August 4th. Winner will be randomly selected and announced below this line right here at THIS POST. Please check back to find out who it is!
The post Tips on Creating an Eid Party for Adults + a Giveaway from Eid Creations appeared first on My Halal Kitchen | Inspiration for Wholesome Living