As Eid al-Fitr celebrations take place for many Arab states on Monday, many across the Middle East are struggling to find ways to honour the sacred religious occasion and create its magical atmosphere for their children, as the region grapples with continuing crises and wars - in particular Israel's ongoing genocidal onslaught on Gaza, attacks across the region, and economic difficulties.
Lebanon: Joy marred by loss and Israel's continued attacks
Many families in Lebanon are greeting the Eid al-Fitr feast day with a blend of grief and worry, as Lebanon continues to face Israeli strikes in stark violation of the ceasefire which went into effect last November.
In spite of this, many are determined to uphold the sanctity of the occasion and make it special for their children.
Khaled Arnadoun works at a clothes shop in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. He said to The New Arab's Arabic-language sister edition that he has seen "fathers coming daily with their children, asking the shop owner to consider their circumstances and help them out so they can get clothes for their children".
He says he waited for his children who are living abroad to send money so he could buy new Eid clothes for his daughter, as his salary doesn't even cover his family's basic needs.
"Despite that," he adds, "we need to experience the atmosphere of Eid, even if it means borrowing".
Meanwhile, in the south, many remark that Eid al-Fitr's arrival has renewed the grief of families who have lost loved ones, as well as their homes.
Hundreds of thousands continue to be displaced, especially from the border villages, as Israel continues to occupy Lebanese territory in the south and launch repeated attacks across the country.
Among them is Atef Suleiman, from the border village Kfar Kila, who says the idea of going home now seems like a "dream".
He has lost his home and livelihood, and has had to find work as a daily labourer. His nine-year old daughter is also suffering psychological trauma due to the repeated Israeli air raids.
"I'm waiting for my boss to transfer me a small amount of money so I can buy Eid clothes for my daughter," he says, adding that his boys are older and show "more understanding of the situation".
Morocco: Celebrating family and ancient tradition
Moroccans are celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Monday with their usual customs – paying the Zakat al-Fitr, a compulsory charitable donation given before the Eid prayers, followed by family visits and exchanges of greetings.
"Eid isn't complete without visits to family and neighbours," says Fatima, a housewife in her fifties.
"Maintaining family ties is one of the most important aspects [of Eid]. That's why I make sure to welcome my family and guests to my home every year to exchange greetings and break the fast together."
She adds that she loves preparing the various traditional dishes for her guests.
"Eid is an occasion for family gatherings, and nothing compares with the happiness of seeing my children and grandchildren having fun around me."
Osama Khadrawi, a culture and heritage researcher at Mohammed V University in Rabat, says "there are many traditional customs and traditions that distinguish Moroccans from one another, given the cultural diversity between the Amazigh, Arab, mountainous, and Hassani regions. These make this Eid celebration a chance to show solidarity, compassion, and diversity, even when it comes to the foods, sweets, and delicacies our country abounds with".
Yemen: US bombs leave Eid markets empty
The US started conducting intensive airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen weeks ago, following the Houthis' announcement that they would resume their targeting of Israeli ships in the Red Sea after Israel resumed its war on Gaza.
In addition to the crippling economic crisis the country has been suffering for years, the US bombing campaign meant that the usual upsurge in last-minute shopping for Eid al-Fitr failed to materialise in many areas, as many have been afraid to go to the markets.
Ahmed al-Ali, who lives in Sanaa, said he and his family had to postpone their Eid shopping as they were afraid to risk being out at the market in case there was a US airstrike, even though he usually prepares for Eid at least "ten days in advance".
A trader from Saada province told The New Arab's Arabic edition that the bombing had deliberately targeted residential areas near markets to "spread terror among the citizens".
Economic analyst Sadiq Ali explained that the consequences of war had accumulated year after year in Yemen, and had robbed people of the joy they would usually feel at the coming of Eid al-Fitr, as well as tearing away their customs and traditions.
Today, he said, hardships of daily life consume people, as does worry over US and Israeli bombings.
He added that the wars and various crises underway in Yemen have caused widespread poverty and high levels of hunger.
In addition, state employees have not been paid for the eighth year running, and such issues have seen purchasing power among the Yemeni population plummet, he says.
Syria: First Eid al-Fitr since the fall of Assad
Eid al-Fitr is different this year in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, with people now able to gather freely with their families, and visit the graves of their loved ones, even if the economic hardship, continued life in displacement camps, and the recent violence on the coast cast a shadow over the festive period.
Eid feels different this year for Umm Youssef, 65, who lives in Damascus, as she will be able to visit the grave of her son, who was killed by the regime's intelligence services in the city's Qadam district in early 2011.
Although there was never any order preventing her from visiting, she has always been afraid of "reports" of her visits getting back to the authorities, who, she says, viewed visits to graves of revolutionaries or opposition members as crimes deserving of punishment.
"I used to rush when visiting my son's grave. This Eid, I will stay with him for a long time and won't fear being seen," she says.
Meanwhile, Damascus' markets also feel different this year, and brim with merchandise and crowds of people. The famous Hamidiyah Souq has regained its former energy and bustle, which saw it open nightly throughout Ramadan until suhoor, with thousands flocking there for shopping or entertainment.
Marwan Samadi, a 60-year-old resident of Barzeh neighbourhood in northern Damascus, summed up the joy of many Syrian families, saying: "Eid is completely different this year. My family will be together again and I will be reunited with my children, whom I haven't seen in ten years".
This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition
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