Hari Raya Haji or Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is where Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) complete faith and trust in God.
While the occasion is dedicated for a very meaningful purpose – it is also a time for fellow Muslims to gather around and mingle with one another! And what better way to do it than jazz up your open house?
If you’re planning to invite guests over to your home once again – let us give you a few tips to make the moments spent together even more precious and special.
Bring in extra decorations
‘Selamat Hari Raya, pada saudari saudara semua…’ Wait a minute, you’ve got the music on but looks like you’re still missing something. Oh, that’s right – sparkly and dazzling decor!
That’s right; it’s time to change it up and do a complete transformation.
Instead of just putting up a row of colourful lights along the corridor – throw in other balloon decor ideas! Create a majestic crescent-and-star themed balloon arch doorway to welcome your guests or hang cute ketupat balloon sculptures around the room.
Or go all out and adorn your space with a beautiful green and gold balloon backdrop wall with a life-size balloon couple dressed in festive ethnic attires. It’s all about giving you the perfect excuse to take more family photos together!
Serve up healthy dishes and beverages
No one can resist the spread during any festive occasion. You could try, but that drool and hungry eyes don’t lie.
Who said you can’t have the usual, scrumptious festive dishes in a healthier manner? If it’s a feast that you’re looking for, it is a feast that shall be given to you! All you have to do is start tweaking the recipes. And the first step? Cooking methods.
Put aside some time and experiment with different cooking methods – specifically boiling, steaming, broiling, stir-frying and any other healthier cooking methods with minimal oil and additives. Next up – reduce the amount of sugar, oil, coconut milk and salt. And skip the usual 1.5 litres bottle of soft drinks. Instead, substitute those drinks with fruit-infused water or even adding ice cubes filled with fruits!
At the same time, throw in some lower-sugar cookies or bake the usual goodies with whole grains. All these are great ways to include elder folks who might otherwise have to stay away from your sweet treats!
But hey, don’t just limit yourselves to these – the alternatives are endless. For now, go ahead and pick up these tips! Indulge in a yummy experience without having to worry about jeopardising your health.
Set up a photo booth
Malay weddings have been incorporating photo booths for a long time, so why not hop on the bandwagon and give your guests some lovely mementoes? (Don’t worry – you’ll get to keep some of them too!)
But just having a photo booth and setting up a camera can be pretty dull.
Presenting the key to making photos a whole lot of fun – props. Whether it’s for filming or a photoshoot – we all know how props just seem to be working their magic, all the time. And for a photo booth which is way more personal and memorable? It’s the perfect way to spice things up a little at your open house!
Be creative and print out a couple of silly phrases on a board – ‘I Cannot Spell Kuih Without U And I’, ‘Diet Can Come Later’ or even the classic ‘Maaf Zahir Dan Batin’. Or better yet – check in with your party planner on the variety of props they have! You’re going to be amazed by the infinite options.
Now, just add some whacky glasses and flashy wigs to make the photo-taking experience even more exciting!
Invite a caricature artist to come by
Ever wanted to be a work of art? Well, congratulations! Your time is now.
Just fix your posture and leave it all to your artist to do the magic. In moments, you’ll be presented with a cartoonish version of yourself. Splendid, huh?
Not only will these one-of-a-kind souvenirs intrigue your guests magnificently but it’ll be another wonderful topic to talk about. And don’t worry – the artist can handle the pressure. So go on, watch the artist at work and witness yourself turn to a marvellous masterpiece.
Now, just take a deep breath and keep calm – you have got nothing to be anxious about! Throw your worries away about leaving them bored to death – you just got your win-win solution.
Entertain guests with balloon sculpting
Remember walking down the streets and watching those balloon sculptors twist out the perfect balloon flower or animal sculpture?
Let your guests have a taste of it! You’ll be surprised to see the line growing endlessly – filled with kids and even adults.
Now now, remember the saying – ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’? Well, let’s just say that personalised gifts are way better – they work on everyone!
Regular balloons already work like a charm for most people, especially on their birthdays. So, just imagine the look on your guests’ faces when they’re presented with a customised balloon sculpture! Just remember to pop the request over to your party planner so they’re all ready to handle the overwhelming demands from your visitors.
Customise your money packets
If you can change your clothes every year – why not do the same for your money packets?
Customisation work wonders and, having customised money packets with a significant meaning will make the festive occasion extra special for you. And no one said that you had to stick to green absolutely. Have a favourite colour in mind? Let the designated company know then!
And in Malay customs, there’s no harm in choosing black to be the primary colour – after all black being an inauspicious colour only applies to Chinese traditions.
Moving on to designs, there’s an overflowing number of options. From printing photos of family members onto the packets to incorporating your own designs – it’s the perfect way to add a little touch of your own.
Conclusion
Every homeowner will want their guests to be entertained, at all times. Nobody wants to put their guests to sleep.
So, bring on your A-game at your upcoming open house with these few tips; we’ll be sure to see a bunch of happy faces smiling their way throughout.
