How My Partner + I Turned an Epic Fail into the Perfect Plan

Ramadan is coming to a close, and I've been amazed at my partner's unwavering month-long commitment to fast every day from sunrise to sundown. (I tried to do it with him one day, and by 1 PM, I was in bed crying for coffee!)

Now, we're busy preparing for Eid, a day of celebration that concludes Ramadan, which includes feasting, exchanging gifts, and spending time with friends and family.

Bridging Cultural + Religious Gaps

Ali and I are an unlikely couple bridging religious and cultural gaps that many would view as insurmountable. He's a devout Muslim from Iraq, while I'm a Korean-American with a spiritual outlook on life. However, we share a common ground of mutual respect and believe in the power of energy and intentions, which brings us closer.

One of the biggest challenges we faced as a couple was coming to terms with our different holiday traditions, such as Christmas and Eid. On top of it, blending lives—with his two sweet sons (a college student and teen) and my darling 13-year-old daughter—has beautiful and complex layers.

Sienna loves Christmas, and we always celebrate with a beautiful tree, decorations, and a big gift-giving ceremony on December 25. So I knew that I needed to continue this tradition for her, and I wanted my partner to take part.

In our first year, Ali and I made a deal. He agreed to celebrate Christmas if we celebrated Eid. He mentioned that his sons never fully embraced this Muslim holiday, so we decided to work together to make both holidays equally important.

We shook on it, and I was excited to take on the challenge.

Christmas was a hit. Eid was a fail.

When Ali’s sons spent their first Christmas with us, they were so excited about the presents and the festive atmosphere since they had never celebrated the holiday in their household.

When Eid came around, I did my best to make it just as fun as Christmas. We invited everyone over for a gathering, but despite our best efforts, the entire day lacked engagement from everyone. Our first Eid was a total flop.

After our second and third Christmas celebrations, which were even more delightful than the first, I realized that Ali felt torn. He wanted to make me happy, but he also felt like his customs—which are already underrepresented in American society—were being sideswiped by American traditions.

During a heart-to-heart conversation, we realized that rather than not celebrating either holiday, we could co-create inclusive and exciting celebrations that would be enjoyable for everyone.

We both share the belief that gift-giving is a beautiful expression of love, whether it's spontaneous or planned. It's an opportunity for everyone to spread joy and show appreciation to loved ones. Teaching the kids how to give (and not just receive) is something we both value.

So, I came up with the idea of wrapping the gifts and putting them out for all to see, just like Christmas. It signals that something special is coming, and who doesn't love the mystery and fun of unwrapping a gift that's just for them?

Eid planning out of head + onto paper = stress relief with the Savor Beauty Planner.

We decided to call it "Eid-mas”, complete with an Eid tree that the teens decorated. We planned out the home decor and invited my partner’s sister and her young children for the gift-giving ceremony and festivities.

It ended up being the perfect plan! The kids are all excited for a weekend of festivities with family, and my daughter is learning about a new religious tradition. I am also proud to celebrate my partner's unwavering commitment to his beliefs… it feels like we're nearing the end of a long and challenging marathon.

Our Eid Holiday Greetings

When we sent our holiday greetings to friends and family, they all appreciated our fun and inclusive approach to integrating the Muslim holiday as an equally important celebration in our lives.

I hope our experience inspires others who are blending lives and facing cultural differences to embrace them as an opportunity to add richness and depth to their lives. Instead of seeing these differences as a negative, we can create new joyful customs and rituals together.

So, here's to wishing you all a happy Eid-mas! With love, Angela