History Of Long Traditions Of Buying New Clothing For Eid

JAKARTA Ahead of Eid al-Fitr, there is one tradition that some Muslims may not miss, namely hunting for new clothes to wear during Eid. Wearing a new dress during Eid al-Fitr has been done since ancient times.

One of the agendas that cannot be missed before Eid al-Fitr is to prepare for Lebaran. This tradition has a strong root in the culture of Indonesian society in various circles.

Wearing a new dress during Lebaran is not just to beautify yourself, but also to be defamatory in celebrating the day of victory after a month of full fasting Ramadan. According to Professor of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Indonesia Agus Aris Munandar, Idulfitri's clothes symbolize purity on the holiday.

At first, you had to wear a new dress, sarong, or clean mukena during Eid prayer. It's a symbol of Muslims returning to fitness after fasting a full month in the month of Ramadan, "explained Agus, quoted by Kompas.

In the tradition of buying new clothes, usually parents prioritize children. In addition to being worn during Eid prayers, also to visit relatives' homes.

"For adults, new clothes are just symbols, the important thing is a new intention to carry out Islam well," he added.

Actually, since when did the tradition of Lebaran clothes take place in Indonesia?

Quoting Kompas, the tradition of buying Eid clothes has existed since the early 20th century, as stated by the Dutch orientalis who at that time served as Advisor to Indigenous Affairs for the Colonial Government, Snouck Hugronje.

"Everywhere this party celebration is accompanied by special meals, travel with each other by relatives and acquaintances, purchase new clothes, and various encouraging forms of entertainment," wrote Hugronje in his letter contained in the Advice of Sinock Hurgronje During his staffing to the Dutch East Indies Government 1889 1936 Volume IV.

Hugronje described that at that time people were celebrating parties with special dishes. They also visit each other's relatives and relatives. Not to forget, people also buy new clothes as an encouraging entertainment. According to Hugronje, the tradition of buying clothes during Eid is also similar to the habits of people in Europe during New Year celebrations.

Meanwhile, another source said that Lebaran clothes had become a tradition for the people of the Islamic Kingdom of Banten around the 1596s. This is explained by historian Marwati Djoened Poesponegoro and Nugroho Notosusanto in a written work entitled Indonesian National History.

Apart from the Islamic Kingdom of Banten, the residents of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta at that time also wore new clothes during Eid. And that tradition has survived until now.

According to Hidayat Surya Abadi from the State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Ampel (2019), the origin of buying new clothes for Lebaran is also a tradition of being influenced by advertising. In advertising, new clothes are presented with various games, scenes, and interesting stories. Even the story in the advertisement also shows that giving new clothes is a form of affection or devotion to parents.

Wearing the best clothes during Eid al-Fitr is one of the cornerstones in the tradition of wearing new clothes. as narrated by Al-Hakim, mentions that the Prophet's grandson, Hasan bin Ali, said:

"On every holiday [Idul Fitri], Rasulullah saw. tell us to wear the best clothes we have, use the best perfume we have, and slaughter the most expensive animal sacrifices we can afford."

The Hadith does not explicitly require the purchase of new clothes, but the interpretation of the best clothing phrases is often associated with new, clean, and most appropriate clothes.

Basically, the religious view emphasizes that the most important thing is cleanliness and fragility of clothing, not solely its novelty. If a person is unable to afford new clothes, wearing the clean, neat, and best old clothes they have, it is still considered in accordance with religious recommendations.

Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, Arsad Hidayat, said that the tradition of Lebaran clothes does not only exist in Indonesia. A number of countries whose population is predominantly Muslim also do the same.

But recently, the tradition of wearing Lebaran clothes has raised debates about the economic aspect and the impact on the environment. For families with limited economies, buying Eid clothes can be a burden in itself. In fact, this tradition was originally well-intentioned.

A study from the Journal of Education and Social Sciences explores the culture of consuming Lebaran clothes in Jubung Village, Sukorambi, Jember. From this journal, researchers found that the tradition of buying Eid clothes is closely related to the consumptive lifestyle of Muslim communities in Indonesia.

There are several factors that influence it, ranging from social pressure, visual culture domination, to self-image obtained from having new clothes. Consumptive behavior ahead of Lebaran often shifts people's focus from the spiritual essence of Eid, which should be introspective and solidarity.

In addition, the fashion industry that occurs due to the high demand for new clothes during Lebaran is also accompanied by increased awareness of some people regarding sustainability issues.

The fashion industry, especially with the concept of fast fashion, has a big environmental impact. That's why, for some people, welcoming Eid is not always by buying new clothes.

There are more sustainable alternatives that deserve to be considered, such as wearing old clothes again or making upcyclingwear.