Alve: Celebrating Eid in Sweden as an International Student

Hej, I’m Alve from Bangladesh, and I’m a Muslim. Every year, Muslims around the world observe fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, from sunrise to sunset. After this month of discipline, reflection, and devotion, we celebrate Eid—which, in simple terms, is like Christmas for us.

This year was special for me because it was my first time celebrating Ramadan and Eid away from my homeland. It was definitely a different journey. Living alone meant I had to cook my own meals, which was a fun experience, but I truly missed my mom’s cooking.

Ramadan in Örebro turned out to be a full vibe. Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel the Ramadan atmosphere here, but there is a strong Muslim community in the city. There are several mosques where people gather for prayers, and even Örebro University has a Muslim community that brings people together during this time.

Talking about Eid—one of my friends, Omer, who studies in Stockholm University, along with my junior Fahad from my college days, came to visit me. A few days before Eid, I was feeling a bit down thinking I wouldn’t have my close friends around this year. But their visit truly made my day.

On Eid morning, we went to the local mosque in Örebro to perform the Eid prayer. After that, we visited Örebro Castle to take some photos. Later, I cooked some delicious traditional food, and we all enjoyed a great meal together at home. My Swedish friend Adam also joined us for lunch, which made the experience even more special.

In the evening, we went out to enjoy the sunset at Naturens Hus, a beautiful spot near the university by the lake. We ended the night with a fun party at Ritz Nightclub.

Overall, I would say this was one of the best Eids I’ve ever celebrated. Even though I was far from home, it didn’t feel empty. This was only possible because Sweden is a religiously neutral country where people respect each other’s beliefs, no matter their background.