Because most people are Muslim, a major holiday in Aceh is Ramadan. For one month people fast from sunrise to sunset. Shops close down in the afternoon so people can pray. At night people eat, but they are not supposed to overeat. Fasting is for helping people to focus on God by removing the distractions of what your body wants. It's also supposed to help people think of the poor and what it must be like to go without food because you have no choice.

During this month, even if you are not Muslim it is considered very rude to eat or drink in public during the day.

At the end of the fast everyone celebrates peace that they feel. They call this holiday Eid al-fitri. People visit and feast with friends and family. Many people in Aceh go on vacations because it is a 3 day holiday.

We visited people in their homes too.

Another important holiday for Muslims is Eid al-adha. It's to remember the obedience of Ibraham (Abraham) when he was willing to sacrifice his son, Ishmeal.(they believe he was Ishmeal, not Issac, as the Christian and Jewish people do) A bull is killed and a third of the meat is distributed to the poor by the Iman (teacher of a mosque).

CRS donated a bull to the local Mosque during Eid al-adha.

It takes a long time for a couple to get engaged in Aceh. This is because the man must recieve the woman's parent's approval and show he can support a wife.

In the U.S. we have bridal showers. Here they have henna parties, where designs are painted on the bride.

If there is henna left, the single girls can be painted too.
It is a tradition from India.

The ceremony is held in a mosque, sometimes days before the traditional feast. At the feast husband and wife wear traditional clothing. She has flowers woven through her hair.

A royal room is prepared where they sit together.

They preside like king and queen over the feast which the guests are served. The men and women eat separately.

Just as in America, gifts are given to the couple, usually money.

A man can actually have more than one wife but this does not happen often because he has to be able to support them all.