(Posted January 31, 2005)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College student clubs, United Cultures of Juniata College (UCJC) and Muslim Student Association will host the 10th annual Eid celebration dinner at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5 in the Ellis College Center Ballroom. The celebration is held in recognition of the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

All are invited to take part in the dinner. Tickets are $3 for Juniata students, $6 for nonstudents and $3 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the Ellis Information Desk, (814) 641-3000 or by calling Rosalie Rodriguez, special assistant to the president for diversity, at (814) 641-3125. A total of 200 tickets are available. Reservations are highly encouraged.

The dinner is prepared by some of the 20-plus members of the UCJC, Club International and Muslim Student Association. Students will prepare 12 traditional Middle Eastern dishes including chicken curry, baba ganouj, and tabouli among others. During the dinner, club members also will perform dances from various countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and Lebanon .

This early Eid celebration is a feast commemorating one of the holiest holidays, Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice. The sacrifice reference is the Prophet Abraham's willingness to follow God's commandment to sacrifice his son. Eid al-Adha begins on the 10th day of the Islamic month, Dhul-Hijjah. It coincides with the annual six-day pilgrimage, or Hajj, millions of Muslims make to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This year's Eid al Adha feast actually took place on January 21-24 and the more common known Eid ul Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of fasting, Ramadan, took place in November .

Muslims worldwide celebrate the Eid al Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr feasts. Eid, meaning "great day," is a celebration that customarily includes a vast array of food and drinks, festive dancing and singing, an exchange of presents and attending prayer sessions at the mosque.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.