Eid ul Adha is less than 2 weeks away!  This year, more than ever, we want to welcome Eid ul adha with a full heart and spirit, insha’Allah, despite the circumstances amid a global pandemic.

If you follow me on social media, you probably know that my husband and I host an open house brunch for Eid ul Adha and welcome 125+ guests in our home. It’s a party our Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors, friends and family look forward to the invitation each year. It’s a time to come together as a community, share heart felt conversations, some laughs, chow down lots of delicious food, and exchange gifts. Kids participate in fun crafts, decorate cookies and receive eidi. With Covid19 cases rising, the reality is that we cannot keep up with this annual tradition this year.

Despite social distancing, we will continue to lift up our spirit and switch our summer décor to Eid décor and make it the best Eid for our family and our child. We want to instill the love of Islam in our children and make the Islamic festivals a real part of their lives. We want to create warm Eid memories, and Covid19 isn’t going to stop us from doing that. I really hope you do the same.

Here’s 4 ideas to inspire you bring that festive spirit alive for your family this Eid al Adha –

Decorate the main family areas

We’re all going to be missing vising friends and relatives for Eid breakfast, lunch and dinner this year, so why not jazz things up a bit more at home than usual?

Start decorating the areas of your home that you frequently occupy.  Brighten up the living area, main hallway with some variety of star and masjid-shaped lights, festive lanterns and Eid garlands to emphasize that Eid has indeed arrived. Perhaps, decorate a tent while you tell your children about the tent city of Mina.

Prep the Dinning Areas

Set up the Breakfast table as if you are having family and friends over for Eid breakfast.

These times will be the special moments we spend together eating as a family. Now, with all hands on deck, plan to get everyone involved to make it a full-on affair. What specific tasks can the little ones take up to feel include as part of the Eid prep and get excited?

While the table set-up itself can be simple, the moments spent around the table sharing in new traditions and engaging in prayer will insha’Allah be even more meaningful and memorable.

Plan Hajj and Eid Ul Adha themed activity and crafts

There are so many activities to keep the little ones engaged, but having a concrete plan for Eid-ul-Adha with some key activities to teach them about the significance of Hajj will makes it so much more fun and educational.

Kids love stories. For us parents, this is a great way to get a point across. Read to them about hajj in an age appropriate way. If you don’t have Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha related books, start with this Hajj book list. Read together about the significance and the Islamic traditions of hajj, and the story of how zamzam was created. While you teach them the story of the divine sacrifice of Ibrahim (as), ask relatable questions. As a lesson from the story, give your child examples that they can sacrifice their anger, bad behavior, etc. in this season of sacrifice for the sake of Allah swt. Ask how they would feel to give away their favorite toys, so they can comprehend the feeling.

Counting down the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah to Eid Ul Adha is another fun activity to encourage kids to do a good deed every day. Have different fun and education activities planned for these 10 days.

Family memories are made through baking together. An Eid cannot pass without baking cookies together and sharing with friends and family. Bake and decorate Eid ul Adha themed cookies in the shape of a masjid, camel, lamb and share with neighbors one day and color in Islamic wooden crafts the next. This DIY Kabaa craft is a must for us to make every year while learning about the Kabaa. It’s an easy craft you can try with your family. Have the kids save changes in this cute masjid money box that they can donate on the day of Eid.

An Afternoon Picnic

Family picnics are a perfect way for family members to relax and connect. If the Texas weather permits, we may take advantage of a cool sunny day with a picnic at a nearby shady park. With the heat wave we are experiencing, it may not happen or it’ll be an impromptu one.

But out of all the picnics, it’s the impromptu family meals on the lawn or at a park that I love the most. The ones where we grab an old quilt, basket, light meals, fresh fruits and venture out into the backyard or a nearby park. It’ll be a perfect socially distanced Eid picnic.

How are you planning to celebrate Eid amid a global pandemic. Eid ul Adha comes around once a year so let’s strive to make the best of it for our children.