What is Eid al-Fitr? How is Eid celebrated? How do you wish someone Happy Eid?

What is Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr, the first of the two Eids celebrated in the Islamic calendar, celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, spending time with loved ones, and charitable work.

Eid al-Fitr means "festival of breaking the fast" and marks the end of Ramadan. Eid is an official holiday in all Muslim-majority countries, but the number of days varies by country.

Muslims across the world begin Eid day celebrations by partaking in the yearly prayer service that takes place shortly after dawn.

This is preceded by the giving of alms to the poor, or Zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

It is common for the capitals of Muslim majority countries to decorate their cities with festive lights and hold carnivals to commemorate the end of the holy month, with children dressed in new clothes, offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.

How is Eid celebrated?

Applying Henna- Common Eid Tradition

Eid Mubarak in Arabic means "blessed celebration" and is a common greeting for Eid al-Fitr.

Eid is traditionally celebrated for three days and is a national holiday in most Muslim countries.

The celebrations usually begin with early morning prayers. The rest of the day is dedicated to spending time with friends and family.

Eid al-Fitr Feast

Gifts are exchanged, and feasting ensues during daylight hours for the first time since before Ramadan. The food differs depending on location, there is no one meal that is served worldwide.

Eid al-Fitr is different to Eid al-Adha, which takes place two months later. Eid al-Adha is the festival coinciding with Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

Eid al-Adha is known as the “sacrifice feast” and sees an animal sacrificed to feed the poor, friends, and family. It is seen as the holier of the two Eids.