Consider having dates front and center during Ramadan by shifting dates out of the cardboard box they came in and into golden or silver decorative bowls for the season. Bowls with glass lids or a cloche dome are best to help keep the dates fresh. Display the festive bowls in your kitchen or on a sideboard. Take it a step further and create a Ramadan vignette by filling bowls of varying heights with nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, and displaying them as a grouping. (At the end of Ramadan, use the dates and nuts in your Eid cooking—you can have your display and eat it, too!) For open-house Eid parties, I like to create a “build-your-Eid-gift” station for kids. I lay out gift bags, tissue paper, ribbon, and a bunch of inexpensive finds that include books, treats, and toys. Kids pick one item from each category and place it in their gift bag. This way, every kid goes home with a gift without me having to worry about collecting RSVPs and confirming a guest list in advance. If you have elder relatives, I especially suggest writing them an Eid card (in addition to your annual phone or video call on Eid day.) It will take them right back to when letter mail was the norm and help you build meaningful connections across generations, especially if your kids are helping you with the card writing.
