By Jessica Price
Any Hallmark store carries cards for Yom Kippur, Easter and even Kwanza, but until now, finding a card for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr wasn''t possible. Marking the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, Eid will be celebrated in late November.
'Hallmark had cards for all other faith''s festivals,' said Wasiq Zarif, from Dhaka, Bangledesh, president the of Muslim Student Association at BYU. 'The only cards they were missing in their whole database was a good card for the Muslim Eid festival.'
When informed about the new card to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, Zarif was surprised but happy to hear the good news.
'It''s actually a very nice idea for them to express their gratitude to the whole Muslim faith,' Zarif said. 'It''s nice that they have some cards only for those people, since this is the second largest festival on the whole Islamic calendar.'
Ramadan is the month of fasting in the Muslim faith that begins on the coming of the new moon. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin between Oct. 24 and 27.
Eid al-Fitr begins the day after the end of the fast, and it is considered unholy to fast on this day.
Muslims dress up in new clothing and visit mosques to pray and offer their thanks for their opportunity to fast.
The festivities also include visiting family and friends and exchanging cards.
'The Muslim community will be very happy because we can buy cards from Hallmark, send cards and receive them from friends and family,' Zarif said. 'It''s more personal to send paper cards.'
Local stores, however, will not carry the new cards until next season. The corporate office that supplies Provo and Orem does not have anymore stock of the Muslim holiday cards for this season.
'Here in Utah, we have Jewish cards, Kwanza cards, Mahogany cards and more,' said Susie Nyman, manager of Amelia''s Hallmark in the University Mall. 'I don''t know how they will do here (Muslim holiday cards) because of the LDS population, but I think it''s good that they''re recognizing it.'
To locate the nearest store that offers assorted Eid cards, call 1-800-HALLMARK (425-5627). Also visit Hallmark.com to check out the e-card selection and online paper card service.