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| An SOS Family celebrates Ramadan Bayram in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina |
August 30, 2011: The holy month of fasting, Ramadan, has just ended for Muslims around the world. Thirteen-year-old Anisa, who lives at the
SOS Children’s Village in Sarajevo, in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, is eager to celebrate Ramadan Bayram (also celebrated as
'Eid al-Fitr' in other countries), which marks the conclusion of Ramadan.
“Ramadan Bayram brings a festive atmosphere to our home,” she explains. “The whole house smells of mom's delicacies and we do our best to be especially well-behaved.”
Ramadan is a family holiday, and SOS Mother Dina (all names have been changed) started preparing food for Ramadan Bayram days earlier.
“On the first day of Ramadan Bayram,” says Anisa, “we woke up early. Based on custom, we ate a few dates as the boys got ready to attend morning prayer. Mom and my sisters made breakfast, while I watched Ina, our youngest [SOS] sister, not even a year old.”
In the mosque Anisa’s SOS brothers, Dzevad and Suad, met older brother Hamid, who recently moved to the SOS Youth Facility. With Hamid and SOS older sister Aida also home for the holiday, Mom Dina’s eyes teared from having the family together on this important holiday.
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| Dina's youngest SOS child |
A Special Time for Gifts and Guests
“As we talked over breakfast, Mom snuck out of the room to get the presents she had carefully hidden,” says Anisa. “We were so happy with her gifts because she knew exactly what each of us wanted.”
Ramadan Bayram is a time to visit close family and friends. “Our first guests arrived at 11 a.m.,” says Anisa. “Dzevad served us baklava and juice. Mom's baklava is the best in the world!”
After a festive lunch, the boys washed the dishes and the family walked to Dina’s parents home to visit. Anisa loves being out and about on Bayram. “The city is clean and shining; the people are smiling and wishing each other a happy Bayram.” Bayram lasts three days, so Anisa and her siblings made plans with friends they ran into on the street to visit the next day.
By evening everyone was happily exhausted, especially Ina. “As the youngest she's always the center of attention,” observes Anisa.
SOS Children’s Villages in Sarajevo Since the 1990s
SOS began helping orphans in the region during the war in the early 1990s. At present there are two SOS Children's Villages in Bosnia-Herzegovina, two SOS Youth Facilities and seven SOS Social Centers.
Celebrate the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the festival of Eid, by sponsoring a child today!