Idul Fitri is the biggest holiday in Indonesia. It's kind of like the Indonesian equivalent of Christmas (although they have Christmas too). Universities and schools are out for two weeks, businesses close down for a number of days, and families leave the big cities to return home for celebrations with extended family. A tradition of "house-to-house" visiting also exists. My housemates and I took advantage of the opportunity and visited the home of our house helper, Ibu Yoyo (center, in the red dress). Throughout the year we pay her to come and cook two meals a day and wash and iron all our clothes. She's great.
We visited Ibu Yoyo's house for an hour and a half and enjoyed a wide selection of special foods, including ketupat, the rice dish above that is cooked inside a package of woven coconut leaves.
Idul Fitri is celebrated as the breaking of the fasting month. For one month many of the people in this country fast during the days (from 4:30 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening) from all food and drink. During this month, the fast is often broken in the evenings with the sweet fruit dish shown above.
Idul Fitri is the biggest holiday in Indonesia. It's kind of like the Indonesian equivalent of Christmas (although they have Christmas too). Universities and schools are out for two weeks, businesses close down for a number of days, and families leave the big cities to return home for celebrations with extended family. A tradition of "house-to-house" visiting also exists. My housemates and I took advantage of the opportunity and visited the home of our house helper, Ibu Yoyo (center, in the red dress). Throughout the year we pay her to come and cook two meals a day and wash and iron all our clothes. She's great.
We visited Ibu Yoyo's house for an hour and a half and enjoyed a wide selection of special foods, including ketupat, the rice dish above that is cooked inside a package of woven coconut leaves.
Idul Fitri is celebrated as the breaking of the fasting month. For one month many of the people in this country fast during the days (from 4:30 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening) from all food and drink. During this month, the fast is often broken in the evenings with the sweet fruit dish shown above.
