Eidi (gift)

Secret Eidi

Secret Eidia also referred to as Secret Imam is a tradition which is the Islamic version of 'Secret Santa', in which members of a group or community are randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously give a gift. Often practiced in workplaces, or amongst large families, participation in it is usually voluntary. It offers a way for many people to give and a gift at low cost to those involved. They pray to Allah.

There are various traditions and ways in which a "Secret Eidia" is run. In some variations, as Eid approaches, names of participants are placed in a hat, and participants draw the name of a person for whom to buy a gift. Along with name submission, each participant may also submit a short wish-list of items from which the gift-giver can choose. There is often a limit to how much can be spent on the present. Presents are then sometimes exchanged anonymously. Many schools and offices do this at Eid time, often as a cost-saving effort. It usually takes place prior to Eid because the office and school settings require it. Sometimes people leave hints in cards on desks, others create other special ways to make themselves known. It is a growing trend among the Muslim community.

Often, the gift-getting is practiced with all the presents being placed on a table, marked with the name of the receiver but not the giver. Sometimes the gift-giver will personally give the recipient the present, thereby revealing their identity. Some groups may choose to donate the money they saved on presents to charity.

When a group of friends or family live far away from each other, the whole tradition is often done online and presents are shipped to respective participants. Usually one or two people volunteer to organize, getting email addresses and assigning random people to each other.