Posted on May 2, 2022
For many Arab Muslims celebrating the end of Ramadan, it's not Eid without ma'amoul
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https://www.npr.org/2022/05/02/ [login to see] /for-many-arab-muslims-celebrating-the-end-of-ramadan-its-not-eid-without-maamoul
As Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, comes to a close, many Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr with their friends and family.
The festival closes out Ramadan and brings entire communities together for feasts and potlucks. But regardless of what size the gathering is, there's a safe bet that they will all include ma'amoul – the traditional semolina cookies that are often stuffed with dates or a nut mixture. Many Arab Muslims spend the entire last week of Ramadan making these holiday delights.
"The ma'amoul is kind of the claim to fame for a lot of Arabs celebrating Eid," says Reem Assil.
As Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, comes to a close, many Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr with their friends and family.
The festival closes out Ramadan and brings entire communities together for feasts and potlucks. But regardless of what size the gathering is, there's a safe bet that they will all include ma'amoul – the traditional semolina cookies that are often stuffed with dates or a nut mixture. Many Arab Muslims spend the entire last week of Ramadan making these holiday delights.
"The ma'amoul is kind of the claim to fame for a lot of Arabs celebrating Eid," says Reem Assil.
For many Arab Muslims celebrating the end of Ramadan, it's not Eid without ma'amoul
Posted from npr.org
Food/Chow
Islam
Religion
Tradition
Culture
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The biggest tenet of Arab hospitality is that it’s a virtue,” Assil says. “You’re supposed to make anyone who comes into your home, friends and strangers alike, feel like they are at ease and that they’re safe and they have a sense of belonging.”
Alongside the recipes and community building, Assil continues what has been her life-long work as a social justice advice by telling the history and sharing the varied experiences of Arab Americans.
“I wanted to really challenge people around the narrative of Arabs in this country,” she says, while nodding to the increased anti-Muslim sentiment that happened after the Sept. 11th attacks. “It’s like you either were the terrorist or the refugee or the victim. And I just I wanted to break all of those [tropes]. I wanted to really put forth a bold narrative of like, this is me and it’s called Arabiyya, so it’s really about being an Arab woman … and how that informs the food that I cook.”
“I really wanted to tell a story of resilience through the food. You know, hopefully the stories and the anecdotes really show how these recipes are sort of like clues as to how Arabs are able to create a home away from home, how they’re able to build community, bring people in and turn hardships into really nourishing meals.”...
..."The biggest tenet of Arab hospitality is that it’s a virtue,” Assil says. “You’re supposed to make anyone who comes into your home, friends and strangers alike, feel like they are at ease and that they’re safe and they have a sense of belonging.”
Alongside the recipes and community building, Assil continues what has been her life-long work as a social justice advice by telling the history and sharing the varied experiences of Arab Americans.
“I wanted to really challenge people around the narrative of Arabs in this country,” she says, while nodding to the increased anti-Muslim sentiment that happened after the Sept. 11th attacks. “It’s like you either were the terrorist or the refugee or the victim. And I just I wanted to break all of those [tropes]. I wanted to really put forth a bold narrative of like, this is me and it’s called Arabiyya, so it’s really about being an Arab woman … and how that informs the food that I cook.”
“I really wanted to tell a story of resilience through the food. You know, hopefully the stories and the anecdotes really show how these recipes are sort of like clues as to how Arabs are able to create a home away from home, how they’re able to build community, bring people in and turn hardships into really nourishing meals.”...
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