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 i...