Eid al-Fitr, like Lunar New Year, is a festival for family reunions, so visiting long-lost relatives and giving gifts is a necessary etiquette.

One of the distinctive features of the Indonesian gift-giving culture is that gifts are impressively diverse, including many items that are not considered "gifts" in other cultures. In Indonesia, gift baskets are more common than gift boxes. You can put the things you want to give in the basket at once and adjust them according to the recipient's needs. Popular holiday gifts include candles, religious items, and perfume. Food, of course, is also a good choice.

If you want to give sweet treats as gifts, dates and chocolates have always been a popular choice in most Muslim households. In Indonesia, you can also give traditional local sweets (which will be mentioned later). What;s more, Indonesians attach great importance to the practicality of gifts. In addition to sweets such as cookies and cakes, you can also give daily necessities such as cooking oil, flour, sauces, and rice, which is similar to Thailand's gift-giving culture!

Eid al-Fitr is not only a time for family reunions but also a moment to indulge in delicious feasts. Just like how Christmas has roasted chicken and Dragon Boat Festival has rice dumplings, Indonesia's Eid al-Fitr also has certain dishes that are must-haves during gatherings. Here are some popular Eid al-Fitr dishes for you to try:

Ketupat (Indonesian rice dumplings) have always been an important staple food for Indonesians regardless of festivals. During holidays, Indonesian families would start wrapping Indonesian rice dumplings, which involves wrapping rice in palm leaves (or banana leaves) to create diamond-shaped dumplings that are steamed to produce sticky rice cakes. The rice cake itself doesn't have much flavor and therefore is suitable for pairing with various dishes, including various festive dishes during the Eid al-Fitr and the common street food satay. Due to their unique appearance, the leaves of ketupat are often used for decoration.

Opor Ayam (coconut milk chicken) is a dish from Central Javanese cuisine. As the name suggests, it is made by simmering chicken legs with spices such as galangal, lemongrass, and cinnamon in coconut milk. Basically, when it comes to the Eid al-Fitr, this dish is always mentioned.

Both Indonesians and many food lovers from around the world are in love with rendang curry, even making it into CNN's "The World’s 50 Best Foods" list. Rendang is a famous Padang cuisine and is a type of dry curry. It mostly uses beef and is cooked slowly with coconut milk, roasted coconut, and multiple spices to create a soft and tender meat dish.

Sambal goreng kentang ati (spicy chicken liver) is probably the most popular dish among spicy food cravers. The dish is made of  chili paste sautéed with herbs, diced chicken liver (or gizzard) and potatoes. Bitter beans are optional for enhancing the flavor.

Semur (Indonesian braised meat) is the localized version of Dutch stewed meat (Smoor). The meat is usually beef or chicken, and the main seasoning is sweet soy sauce, which not only creates a dark color but also achieves a balanced sweet and salty taste. The same cooking method can also be used to braise other ingredients, such as eggs, tofu, and tempeh.

How can we miss desserts during celebrations? Desserts are essential in feasts, gatherings, and gift-giving occasions. In addition to the sweet coconut date, which is a popular gift choice, Indonesia has many local desserts that are perfect for Ramadan, satisfying everyone's sweet tooth. The desserts introduced below are not only suitable for Ramadan, but also for Lunar New Year and Christmas!

The above-mentioned dishes and desserts are already very popular and well-received in Indonesia. They are also widely popular in neighboring countries, Malaysia and Singapore. When you are invited to visit a gathering for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr, be sure to pay attention to these delicious foods.