Eid on the island

Sunday was Eid, which celebrates the end of Ramadan. It's definitely the biggest holiday here, somewhat akin to our Christmas. After a month of fasting, it's definitely time to celebrate! Everyone gets new clothes, the kids get new toys, and it's a very jolly time with feasting, family gatherings, making cookies (that's the boys' favorite part of Siku Kuu, I'm pretty sure!) visiting friends, beach outings, and the like. 

At night many people go to town, where little fairs are set up with food, toys to buy, and play places for the kids. People from all over the island turn out by the thousands, dressed in their holiday best (think crowds of glittering peacocks in every color of the rainbow). It is THE thing do to on Siku Kuu. 

 And it is CRAZY!

 We are not into big crowds. But last year we braved Forodhani, going with friends for the evening.

 Craziness, I tell ya. Zogo.

 Met up with some friends (impossible not too- pretty much everyone is there)!

After eating we decided to go to the play place. As we were walking there, the press of people was so great that I lost hold of Force's hand. And he was lost from my sight! We looked for him for over an hour, walking all over the park searching for him. We went to the on-duty police men for help, and they were pretty much like, pole sana, leave your number and we'll give you a call if we see him. 

I knew he would be hard to find, because he's a friendly little guy and would not cry to be with strangers. If it were Gilbert, he would be screaming bloody murder, but not Force!

Finally I found him, sitting on the wayside with a family, eating happily! When he saw me, he said, "Mama, I got gum!!" with a huge smile. Yep, he was not bothered at all that we had the daylights scared out of us while he was missing for so long!

Well, needless to say, we did NOT go to town this year, and I don't think we will until the boys are all much taller!

Siku Kuu was not so jovial this year- it was a very rainy day. And the group against the Union was planning to cause trouble again on that day... people say the rain was His way of frustrating their plans. Perhaps so! :)