In the heart of the forest, high up in the tallest oak tree, lived a wise old owl named Omar. He was loved by all the animals for his kindness and wisdom. One sunny evening, as the moon began to rise, Omar felt something special in the air. He knew Ramadan, a time when people fast and think about being kind, was almost over.  

As night fell, Omar watched the moon get bigger and brighter. That meant Eid, a joyful celebration after Ramadan, was close. With a happy hoot, Omar told all his friends about the exciting news – they were all invited to his Eid party!

Bramble the rabbit, Rustle the hedgehog and Nutmeg the squirrel were thrilled to receive their invitations. They woke up early the next day, eager to offer their help to Omar in preparing for the party.

While Omar and Nutmeg were laying down colourful rugs and cushions on the forest floor, Bramble hopped over with a big basket. “Hey, Omar! Nutmeg!” Bramble said with a big smile. “I heard that Eid is a time for sharing and being kind. So, I made some special blue crackers to share with everyone!” Bramble showed them the dark blue crackers he had made.

“Blue is a special colour for Eid,” Omar explained gently to Nutmeg. “It reminds us of the clear sky and the peace and happiness that comes with Eid. Thank-you, Bramble, for making these lovely crackers!” Bramble beamed with delight.

Excited about the party, Nutmeg piped up, “Hey, why don’t we make some yummy snacks to share for the celebrations?” Rustle, who was dozing under a cosy patch of leaves, stirred from his slumber at the mention of food.

Rustle and Nutmeg remembered the special foods Omar had prepared for them at the last Eid party. Rustle, yawning, found some sweet berries in the bushes by the woodland path, while Nutmeg picked fragrant herbs like mint and coriander. Bramble got some fresh vegetables from the field over the stream. They decided to gather some ingredients from the nearby farmer’s kitchen to complement the treats they found in the forest.

Together, they made a tasty feast, mixing forest flavours with Eid traditions. The forest smelt delicious!

Finally, Bramble busily set up compost and recycling stations nearby. He placed bins with clear signs for guests to sort their waste properly. Nutmeg and Rustle watched with admiration.

“Rustle, look at Bramble go!” Nutmeg exclaimed, impressed. “He’s really into this recycling stuff. Let’s help out and tell others too. We can make it fun!” Rustle nodded eagerly, but then said, “After a little rest.”

Just then, a familiar chirp caught their attention, and they turned to see Holly the robin fluttering down from the treetops.

"Holly, you're back!" Nutmeg greeted her happily, her voice filled with delight. Holly nodded, her feathers ruffled from her journey. "Yes, I've just come back from visiting my friends in the next forest. Did I miss anything exciting?"

Nutmeg filled Holly in on the plans for the party and her ideas for spreading the word about recycling, making sure everyone knew where to put their rubbish. Meanwhile, Rustle found another comfortable patch of leaves and settled in for a peaceful nap.

As the forest filled with the chatter of other arriving woodland friends, Omar, the wise old owl, spread his wings and perched himself on a branch above the colourful gathering. “Dear friends,” Omar began, “before we start our fun, let us first gather in prayer to say a special thank you together.” The forest grew quiet as the animals gathered in a circle, bowing their heads.

Together, they prayed and thought about all the good things, feeling happy and close to each other. After they finished praying, Omar spread his wings once more, a twinkle in his eyes. With a smile,
he declared, "Eid Mubarak! Blessed Eid! Let's start the party!" Instantly, excitement filled the air as they all eagerly prepared to celebrate Eid together.

As the party started, Omar led his friends in Eid activities. They ate yummy snacks, said nice words to each other, and had fun together. Omar also told stories about Eid, teaching his friends to be kind and share with others.

Just then, a young field mouse named Lily squealed with delight as she received a shiny coin from her elder. "Eidi!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement. The other animals laughed and joined in her joy, exchanging gifts, and spreading happiness throughout the forest.

Seeing everyone happy, Bramble decided it was time to pull the crackers. Excitedly, he passed around the blue crackers to all the woodland creatures. With eager anticipation, they snapped the crackers apart, revealing the surprises hidden inside. To their delight, each cracker contained a beautiful navy bookmark decorated with shimmering gold flakes, personalised with each of their names.

The forest friends were so happy with their thoughtful gifts! They thanked Bramble with wide smiles and happy chirps. They loved the reusable crackers and felt extra special wearing the paper crowns. Bramble’s sweet Eid messages, scribbled on a piece of paper and tucked inside each cracker, made everyone feel warm and joyful. "Here's to many more celebrations like this," Omar whispered to Bramble. "This is a lovely new Eid tradition indeed."

As the sun started to go down, Omar put up some lanterns that glowed softly. The forest became magical as the lanterns twinkled among the trees. The animals gathered around, feeling cosy and happy. They told stories and laughed together, making the celebration even more special.

Omar thanked his friends for joining him in celebrating Eid. With their bookmarks in hand, a gift from their happy time together, and containers of delicious leftover food from the meal, the animals said goodbye. They chattered happily as they left, looking forward to the next fun gathering in the forest.