Ramadan Wrapping Paper

One of the most venerated, blessed and religiously beneficial month of the Islamic calendar is Ramadan, a month of fasting (sawm) honoring Allah. Fasting starts on the first day of Ramadan and continues until Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, which is also the first day of the following month in the Islamic calendar. Communal prayers, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends, mark this day.

On Eid al-Fitr, Muslims tend to dress up with their best clothes, cook special meals, and spend the day visiting friends and family, contemplating on special moments they have just spent. Gift giving or gift exchanges are allowed only during Eid al-Fitr and not during Ramadan. Traditionally, gifts are given to children, but they can also be exchanged between adults if they so choose, although it is not a fixed custom.

If you plan to give presents for Eid al-Fitr, use a wrapping paper ideal for this festive event. Traditional colors are white, black, green and red. Make your gift-wrapping simple but elegant. Use single color paper and accentuate with contrasting ribbon with bows. For instance, a green wrapping paper tied with a white ribbon and bow, or a green gift-wrap with white ribbon bow. Experiment with what color combination suits you or your host. Never use traditional wrapping papers that might exemplify a non-Islamic occasion or festivities.

Whatever means you may find to package your gift, what is important is the thought that comes with the gift, the value of sharing, the importance of giving, and the spirit of Islamic goodwill. Giving a gift to a child or anyone else is a sign that you felt they were important enough to merit the time and trouble it took to find something appropriate.