Idul Fitri

Today marks the beginning of Idul Fitri, the most important holiday of the year here, you could compare it to our Christmas. After a month of fasting they now celebrate, tonight with a parade, fireworks and drums and they will continue to celebrate by visiting family, friends and neighbors.

Since we have only been here for a few days we don't know much about what is going on, but we understand that it is also a time when everyone apologizes for whatever they may have done wrong.

I think officially people celebrate for about a week, but our neighbor told me today that it might also go on for much longer, if they feel like it.

the parade with a boat float going by our house

Erlend went to the boss of our neighborhood today to as this is expected from everybody who moves to a new area. Erlend was told that, even though we do not speak the language yet, we are expected to walk around the neighborhood and smile and greet people because that is seen as the polite and respectful thing to do. We are looking forward to the day when we can communicate with words and not just smiles...