We sat down with Dila to find out all about Eid, how Dila and her family celebrate traditions, her top styling tips for the occasion and, and how family makes this time so magical. 

What does Eid mean to you and your family?

Eid for me means a very early start to the day, attending Eid prayer, which then follows with preparing a delicious Turkish breakfast for my family and a whole day spreading love and happiness with my family. 

How do you typically celebrate Eid, and what are your favourite traditions?

We tend to wake up at dawn, bake bread and pastries that are consumed throughout the day with traditional soups and dishes. When everyone comes back from the Mosque, a delicious spread of Turkish breakfast is served along with Turkish baklava and coffee.

Everyone helps create an enjoyable experience for elders and kids, as they look forward to this celebration more than everyone else. We love organising fun games, outdoor activities, and serve lots of treats for guests and friends and family.

What do you look for when choosing Eid outfits for your children - comfort, elegance or cultural influences?

Personally, I would look for elegance and comfort. This will be Almila’s first Eid, she will be around 5 months old at the end of March. I would love to dress her up in cute, colourful and aesthetic clothing however, I also need to consider her comfort as she is still very small and sensitive for rough fabric. 

What role does gifting play in Eid celebrations?

Gifting is very important for me as it’s my way of showing love. I am planning to create a gift corner in my house where everyone will buy each other gifts and open them up on the day of Eid.

Are there any childhood traditions that you did as a child that you have now passed down to your children?

During my childhood we used to buy a bouquet of flowers for my mother and my dad used to treat us to toys and sweet treats as this was our favourite thing at the time.

How do you teach your children the value of Eid, beyond the celebrations?

Eid comes right after Ramadan which is a very holy month where we practice how to be patient, more loving and grateful for what we are blessed with. After 30 days of spiritual detoxing and cleansing from the materialistic and superficial aspects of life we intend to embark on a new, fresh start on the day of Eid where we hope to be better humans with more benevolence and compassion.

Do you have any go-to recipes that you always prepare for Eid?

Recently in the past few years, dates covered with dark chocolate has become a staple Eid treat, which is known to be healthier than recipes that contain refined sugar. However, coming from a Turkish Muslim household; Baklava with pistachio filling is a go to recipe that embellishes Eid buffets every year religiously.

How do you balance tradition and modernity in your family's Eid celebrations?

This is a very hard question, as it has been one of my challenges ever since I got married. My family are very traditional and are devoted to their cultural heritage. However, my husband and I are from a younger generation and we try to encapsulate innovation as much as we can in our day to day lives. With that being said, we enjoy spending vast majority of our Eid days with our immediate family rather than the extended family and relatives, this is because we are far more selective in who we want our children to interact with. To summarise, our baby and her contentment is far more important than anything else even if this means going on a holiday for Eid which isn’t very traditional in our culture.

What does a typical Eid morning look like in your home?

If I were to describe an Eid morning I would start to depict a sunny morning in cosy freshly cleansed home that encompasses a lemon cologne aroma. This is a typical Turkish tradition where all guests are served with a lemon cologne to sanitise their hands and subsequently offered sweet treats and pastries. This is probably because we prioritise cleanliness and hygiene over anything else. 

Before breakfast a freshly brewed Turkish coffee is prepared by the youngest girls of the family which is then served by them to the eldest members of the family, and in return they are gifted with cash, this is a way of showing gratitude for their service. 

What advice would you give to families with young children celebrating Eid for the first time?

I would advise first time parents to enjoy the moment as much as they can as well as taking caution when socialising with a lot of people at the same time to avoid their precious ones from being sick. If this means being extra careful and protective around strangers, forbidding kisses and hugging I advise them to do so as the consequences could be very detrimental.  I would also recommend them to prepare gift boxes for their little one to unbox on the day of Eid as kids love to explore new things.

Eid is a positive experience, to make it more harmonious parents should prioritise their baby’s health and wellbeing over pleasing strangers and family members that could potentially overstep boundaries.