Herricks car parade celebrates Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr
More than 100 cars, some decorated in brightly-colored balloons and ribbons, lined up Monday and drove through the streets of Herricks, honking and occupants waving to passersby, as the area's Muslim community celebrated the holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
The festival closes out the monthlong fasting of Ramadan and brings entire communities together for feasts with family that include ma'amoul, traditional semolina cookies stuffed with dates or a nut mixture.
"We actually wanted to share our joy by driving through the community," said Afshan Khwaja, co-president of the group, Herricks Muslim Families, which organized the car parade. " … When we break our fast we are thankful for all the blessings we have at the end of the day. And today is a culmination of that."
Families drove throughout the neighborhood, some playing traditional music while honking and waving to residents who were walking their dogs in a light rain, while others came outside to observe the festivities. Nassau County police directed traffic to allow the parade to continue uninterrupted.
Zaynab Zahir, left, Susha Maruf, Umme Zaman and Rabeya Khandaker wave to passing cars taking part in Monday's parade. Credit: Howard Schnapp
"This is a great representation of what we're celebrating today and for the kids to be excited about it as well," said Anila Khan, corresponding secretary of Herricks Muslim Families, who, like many of the organizers, wore matching blue abayas, a full-length traditional garment worn by Muslim women.
With Ramadan — the holiest month in the Islamic calendar — ending Sunday night, Monday was the first morning in a month when Muslim families could enjoy a traditional breakfast together. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk.
Eid al-Fitr is typically marked with communal prayers, large family meals, new clothes, and exchange of gifts and the distribution of traditional cookies to members of the community
In recent years, a growing number of school districts on Long Island have recognized additional religious holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, celebrated in July, and Diwali, a major religious festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
The Herricks School District, which has a large Muslim population, was closed Monday for Eid al-Fitr, said Superintendent Fino Celano. While many other Long Island districts have followed suit, others have chosen not to close on the holiday.
"Herricks values diversity," Celano said. "This is a wonderfully diverse community, and in recognition of the fact that we celebrate the diversity of all people here in Herricks, we did grant the Eid holiday about 5 years ago … We want to embrace all cultures and celebrate diversity."
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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