Tonight and tomorrow, Muslims will mark the end of the month of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr. After a month of fasting, Eid al-Fitr is marked with religious ceremonies and festivities. The annual holiday is a special day in the Islamic tradition.
Eid al-Fitr (which literally means ‘festival of breaking the fast’) is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims across the world to mark the end of Ramadan, which is a month-long period of reflection, dawn-until-dusk fasting, community and prayer. Differently to other religious festivals like Christmas, Eid occurs on a different date each year. This is because the Islamic calendar is based on moon cycles.
If you have someone in your life who celebrates Eid, being able to wish them the best during this special celebration is a great way to show you care – and respect its importance to the Muslim community. Here's what you need to know.
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What is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr is the annual celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. Ramadan falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is known as the holy month of fasting. In Muslim tradition, Ramadan is about reflection and mindfulness — today, most Muslims follow a schedule of refraining from food and drink between dawn and dusk each evening.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of this month of restraint and is also known as the ‘festival of breaking the fast’.
When is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr falls when a New Moon marks the end of the month of Ramadan. The Islamic calendar is shorter than the Georgian calendar, so Ramadan and Eid typically fall around 10-12 days earlier each year.
This year, Eid al-Fitr is due to fall this evening, on Tuesday, April 9 when the New Moon appears and will continue into tomorrow, Wednesday April 10. Next year, Eid is likely to begin at sundown on Sunday, March 30th, though again, it will depend on the moon sighting.
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How to wish someone a Happy Eid
Some common Eid blessings are: “Eid Mubarak,” (pronounced ‘Eed Mu-ba-rack’, which means “Have a blessed Eid”) or “Blessed Eid”, and “Happy Eid”. A traditional response might be “Khair Mubarak”, which wishes goodness on the person who greeted you.
Celebrate Eid with more GLAMOUR UK content:
- Eid gift ideas to bring joy to your loved ones
- 5 Muslim women share their ultimate Ramadan skincare tips
- How to support your friends and colleagues during Ramadan, according to a Muslim writer
- Modest fashion is on the rise, so here are the best modest fashion brands to have on your radar
