Celebrating Eid al-Adha
Make a ram headband or a paper crown for Eid al-Adha. (Jason Donnelly/FamilyFun Magazine/TNS)
The kids can make these lamb donuts from start to finish. (Jason Donnelly/FamilyFun Magazine/TNS)
You can have fun making a Hajj Place Mat, whether you purchase them or make them with your own fabric. (Jason Donnelly/FamilyFun Magazine/TNS)
This September, nearly 1.6 billion people around the world will celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha. Crafter Manal Aman, founder of the blog Hello Holy Days!, shares three ways to connect with the Muslim tradition.
Rams, sheep, tents, mountains, and palm trees are common symbols of Eid. They signify some of the traditional stories, foods, and sites of the holiday.
Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays on the Islamic calendar, is an opportunity for families to gather and share traditions old and new, including helping those in need, sharing special meals, and making decorations and crafts. It commemorates the story of Abraham’s ram sacrifice (which might be familiar from Jewish and Christian traditions), and it marks the culmination of Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Mecca and one of the five central rituals in Islam. For some Muslims, the holiday holds deep spiritual meaning. To others, it’s more of a cultural ritual that preserves family traditions. Either way, it’s a perfect opportunity to spend time together being creative with the friends and family you love.
This year, Eid starts on September 1, although it moves each year since it follows the lunar calendar (just like Easter).
You can greet friends on the holiday by saying “Eid Mubarak!”
RAM HEADBAND
You can also try this on a paper crown if you don’t have a headband handy.
You’ll need
— Ram template (find the printable templates for these projects at, familyfunmag.com/printables)
— Brown, white, and tan felt
— Pipe cleaners
— Hot glue
— Gold glitter headbands
1. Print the templates. For each headband, cut out and trace 4 spirals onto brown felt.
2. Bend a pipe cleaner in the shape of a felt spiral. Place onto one spiral; glue another on top to sandwich it. Repeat to make a second horn.
3. Trace the larger ear template onto white felt and the smaller onto tan felt. Hot-glue together.
4. Glue the ears to the front edge of the headband and the horns to the top.
LAMB DONUTS
The kids can make these start to finish! Use halal marshmallows if desired.
Makes 12 donuts
Total time 20 minutes
You’ll need
— 11/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
— 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
— 2 tablespoons milk
— 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
— 12 plain cake donuts
— Regular and mini marshmallows
— Pink decorating sugar
— Pink M&M’s or Tootsie Rolls
— Black piping icing
1. Whisk together sugar, corn syrup, milk, and vanilla until well combined and smooth. Set a wire rack over paper towels.
2. Dip the top of each donut into the glaze and place onto the rack to set slightly.
3. Add mini marshmallows around the edges of each donut, cutting in half if needed, adding more across the top. Cut a large marshmallow in the shape of each ear, press sticky side in pink sugar, and attach to donut.
4. For the nose, place an M&M or a piece of Tootsie Roll rolled into a ball; pipe on the eyes and a mouth.
HAJJ PLACE MATS
Purchased place mats make this easy, but you can make your own with fabric and Stitch Witchery.
You’ll need
— Place mat template
— Foam
— Hot glue
— Cardboard
— Paintbrushes
— Multipurpose craft paint
— Cotton place mat
1. Print template, then trace onto foam and cut out. Hot-glue shapes to small squares of cardboard to make stamps.
2. Brush paint onto the stamps and test on a piece of paper or scrap fabric. Use the painted brush to stamp the place mat. (You may need to stamp a few times in the same place to get solid coverage.) Let dry completely before using.
