BUSINESS

For the first time, a major American retailer is offering a dedicated line of decorations for the holiest period on the Islamic calendar: Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. (New York Times)

Use our activity to learn more about how culture influences rituals surrounding Ramadan.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit.

Discussion Ideas

• Party City, the largest retailer of party goods in the United States and Canada, is now selling a line of products to help celebrate Ramadan and Eid. What is Ramadan? Check out this FAQ from Al Jazeera for some help.
  • Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is largely regarded as one of the holiest times of the year, commemorating the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.
    • During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast during daylight hours. The morning, pre-fast meal is called suhur. The evening fast-breaking meal is called iftar. Many mosques and Muslim community centers host community iftars (where they might need napkins and tableware).
      • Al Jazeera reminds us that the Ramadan fast includes abstaining not only from food, but also from immoral acts and anger.
      • Other tenants of the Muslim faith, including charitable giving, prayer, and recitation of the Quran, are also intensified during Ramadan.
    • The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, so the specific (Gregorian) dates of Ramadan change every year. This year (2018), Ramadan will begin on May 16 and end June 14.
    • Ramadan ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. Eid is the first day of the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, Shawwal. This year, Eid falls on the evening of June 14, when adherents first see the “Eid moon.”
      • It’s important to note that is the holiday of Eid, not Ramadan itself, for which Party City has developed products.

• What sort of products is Party City offering to mark Ramadan and Eid?
  • “Party City’s new line includes tableware, banners, decals, gift bags and balloons in purple, blue, green and gold, and embellished with mosques and the star and crescent symbol.”
    • Why the star and crescent? The star-and-crescent motif has been used as a symbol of Islam since the 14th and 15th centuries, appeared on the flag of the Ottoman Empire, and today appears on the flags of the Muslim-majority nations of Algeria, Azerbaijan, Comoros, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. (Singapore and Nepal are the only non-Muslim-majority nations to have versions of the star-and-crescent on their flags.)

• Why is Party City offering Eid party supplies?
  • profit. There are about 9 million Muslims in North America, with spending power of about $100 billion. That’s a huge, huge market.
  • business. Like most successful retailers, Party City responds to customer demand. One of the company’s presidents says it was “motivated to create the items because customers kept requesting them.”

• Why is this news?
  • Representation in the marketplace is crucially important to marginalized and underrepresented groups such as Muslim Americans and Muslim Canadians. Party City is approaching Ramadan and Eid as they do religious holidays such as Christmas or Hanukkah; national holidays such as the 4th of July; or cultural holidays such as Chinese New Year, St. Patrick’s Day, or Cinco de Mayo.
    • In some ways, decorating for Ramadan reflects an adaptation of Western habits surrounding religious observances. A Muslim mother interviewed for the New York Times article says that “decorating helps Muslim families contend with the hype around the December holidays, and helps children feel connected to their religion and culture while also being American.”
    • “‘I’m really excited about it,’ Huda Khwaja, 20, of Atlanta, said of Party City’s effort. ‘It makes me feel like we’re less of an oddity.’”

TEACHERS TOOLKIT

New York Times: Party City Offers Ramadan Decorations, a First for a Big U.S. Retailer

Al Jazeera: Ramadan 2017: Why is it so important for Muslims?

Nat Geo: Culture and Food and Ritual, Oh My!

Nat Geo: Holidays resources on the web

Nat Geo: Holidays resources on the blog