Eid al-Fitr () is the first of the two main festivals in Islam, the other being

Eid al-Adha Eid al-Adha () is the second of the two main festivals in Islam alongside Eid al-Fitr. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. Celebrations and observances are generally carried forward to the ...

. It falls on the first day of

Shawwal Shawwal () is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. It comes after Ramadan and before Dhu al-Qa'da. ''Shawwāl'' stems from the Arabic verb ''shāla'' (), which means to 'lift or carry', generally to take or move things from one place to an ...

, the tenth month of the

Islamic calendar The Hijri calendar (), also known in English as the Islamic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the Ramad ...

. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by

Muslims Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting (''sawm'') of

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...

. The holiday is known under various other names in different languages and countries around the world. Eid al-Fitr has a particular that consists of two generally performed in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in congregation () and features six additional (raising of the hands to the ears whilst reciting the

Takbir The ''takbīr'' (, , ) is the name for the Arabic phrase ' (, , ).Wensinck, A.J., "Takbīr", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 09 ...

, saying "Allāhu ʾAkbar", meaning "God is the greatest"). In the

Hanafi The Hanafi school or Hanafism is the oldest and largest Madhhab, school of Islamic jurisprudence out of the four schools within Sunni Islam. It developed from the teachings of the Faqīh, jurist and theologian Abu Hanifa (), who systemised the ...

school of

Sunni Islam Sunni Islam is the largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any Succession to Muhammad, successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr ...

, there are three at the start of the first and three just before in the second . Other Sunni schools usually have 12 , similarly split in groups of seven and five. In

Shia Islam Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...

, the has six in the first at the end of , before , and five in the second. Depending on the juristic opinion of the locality, this is either (, obligatory) or (strongly recommended). After the , Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Fitr in various ways with

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for Nutrient, nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or Fungus, fungal origin and contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, protein (nutrient), proteins, vitamins, ...

being a central theme, which also gives the holiday the nickname "Sweet Eid" or "Sugar Feast".

History

According to Muslim tradition,

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

instituted the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. According to a certain

hadith Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...

, these festivals were initiated in

Medina Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...

after the migration of Muhammad from Mecca.

Anas ibn Malik Anas ibn Mālik ibn Naḍr al-Khazrajī al-Anṣārī (; 612 712) was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Finding the Truth in Judging the Companions, 1. 84-5; EI2, 1. 482 A. J. Wensinck J. Robson He was nicknamed Khadim al-Nabi for ...

, a

companion of Muhammad The Companions of the Prophet () were the Muslim disciples and followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who saw or met him during his lifetime. The companions played a major role in Muslim battles, society, hadith narration, and governance ...

, narrated that when Muhammad arrived in Medina, he found people celebrating two specific days in which they entertained themselves with recreation. Muhammad then remarked that

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

had fixed two mandatory days of festivity: Eid al-Fitr and

General rituals

Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. The night on which the moon is sighted is celebrated as ''

Chand Raat Chaand Raat (, ) is a South Asian Cultural observance on the eve of the festival of Eid al-Fitr; it can also mean a night with a new moon for the new Islamic month Shawwal. Chaand Raat is a time of celebration when families and friends gather ...

'' in countries like

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

. If the moon is not observed immediately after the 29th day of the previous lunar month (either because clouds block its view or because the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then the holiday is celebrated the following day. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country. It is forbidden to fast on the Day of Eid, and a specific prayer is nominated for this day. As an obligatory act of charity, money is paid to the poor and the needy () before performing the 'Eid prayer.

Eid prayer

The Eid prayer is performed by the congregation in an open area such as a field, community center, or mosque. No

call to prayer A call to prayer is a summons for participants of a faith to attend a group worship or to begin a required set of prayers. The call is one of the History of telecommunication, earliest forms of telecommunication, communicating to people across gre ...

is given for this Eid prayer, and it consists of only two

rakaʿāt A Rak'a ( ', lit. "bow"; plural: ') is a single iteration of prescribed movements and supplications performed by Muslims as part of the prescribed obligatory prayer known as salah. Each of the five daily prayers observed by Muslims consists ...

, with a variable amount of and other prayer elements depending on the branch of Islam observed. The Eid prayer is followed by the

khutbah ''Khutbah'' (, ''khuṭbah''; , ''khotbeh''; ) serves as the primary formal occasion for public sermon, preaching in the Islamic tradition. Such sermons occur regularly, as prescribed by the teachings of all legal schools. The Islamic traditio ...

and then a

dua In Islam, ( , plural: ' ) is a prayer of invocation, supplication or request, asking help or assistance from God. Duʿāʾ is an integral aspect of Islamic worship and spirituality, serving as a direct line of communication betwe ...

asking for God's forgiveness, mercy, peace and blessings for all living beings across the world. The sermon also instructs Muslims as to the performance of rituals of Eid, such as the . The sermon of Eid takes place after the Eid prayer, unlike

Friday prayer Friday prayer, or congregational prayer (), is the meeting together of Muslims for communal prayer and service at midday every Friday. In Islam, the day itself is called ''Yawm al-Jum'ah'' (shortened to ''Jum'ah''), which translated from Arabic me ...

which comes first before prayer. Some imams believe that listening to the sermon at Eid is optional. After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends, and acquaintances or hold large communal celebrations in homes, community centers, or rented halls.

Sunni procedure

As ritual dictates, Sunnis praise God in a loud voice while going to the Eid prayer:

Recitation ceases when they get to the place of Eid or once the Imam commences activities. The prayer starts by doing

niyyah Niyyah (Arabic: نِيَّةٌ, variously transliterated niyyah, niyya , "intention") is an Islamic concept: the intention in one's heart to do an act for the sake of God (Allah). The general Islamic principle of ''niyyah'' is laid out in Chapter ...

"intention" for the prayer before the takbir is said by the

imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

. Next, the takbir al-

ihram ''Ihram'' (, from the Semitic root Ḥ-R-M) is a sacred state which a Muslim must enter to perform the Hajj, Ḥajj (major pilgrimage) or (minor pilgrimage) in Islam. A pilgrim must enter into this state before crossing the pilgrimage boundary ...

is performed, by saying takbir three times, raising hands to the ears and dropping them each time, except for the last when the hands are folded. The Imam then reads

al-Fatihah Al-Fatiha () is the first chapter () of the Quran. It consists of seven verses (') which consist of a prayer for guidance and mercy. Al-Fatiha is recited in Muslim obligatory and voluntary prayers, known as ''salah''. The primary literal mea ...

, followed by another surah. The congregation performs

ruku Rukūʿ (, ) is the act of belt-low bowing in standardized prayers, where the backbone should be at rest. In prayer, it refers to the bowing at the waist from standing ('' qiyām'') on the completion of recitation ('' qiraʾat'') of a por ...

and

sujud Sujūd (, ), or sajdah (, ), also known as sijda, sejda or shejda, in Islam is the act of low bowing or prostration to God facing the ''qiblah'' (direction of the Kaaba at Mecca). It is usually done in standardized prayers (salah). The positio ...

. This completes the first . The congregation rises and folds their hands for the second rak'ah, after which the imam recites al-Fatiha followed by another surah. After this, three takbirs are called out just before the ruku, each time raising hands to the ears and dropping them. For the fourth time, the congregation says Allahu Akbar and subsequently goes into the ruku. The rest of the prayer is completed regularly. This completes the Eid prayer. After the prayer, there is a

Shia procedure

The prayer starts with the followed by five . During every of the first , a special is recited. Then, the Imam recites and and the congregation performs and as in other prayers. In the second , the same above steps (five and and ) are repeated. After the prayer, starts.

Post-prayer celebration

During the Eid celebration, Muslims greet each other by saying , which is Arabic for "Blessed Eid". As it comes after a month of fasting, sweet dishes and foods are often prepared and consumed during the celebration. Muslims typically decorate their homes, and are also encouraged to forgive each other and seek forgiveness. In countries with large Muslim populations, it is normally a public holiday with most schools and businesses closed for the day. Practices differ by country and region.

Practices and culture by country

Countries where Eid al-Fitr is an Official Public Holiday

West Asia

States of the Arabian Peninsula

In the Arab states of the Persian Gulf countries, men would typically buy new (traditional white long robe) or dye their existing with

walnut oil Walnut oil is oil extracted from walnuts, ''Juglans regia''. The oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and saturated fats. Composition According to gas chromatographic and HPLC analysis, virgin walnut oil con ...

. Women would wear special clothes for the occasion along with special perfumes and braids. Most would offer fruit,

date Date or dates may refer to: * Date, the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'') * Jujube, also known as red date or Chinese date, the fruit of ''Ziziphus jujuba'' Social activity *Dating, a form of courtship involving social activi ...

s, tea or coffee to visitors. Those who live in rural areas tend to celebrate more modestly. Buildings, shops, roads and houses in UAE cities get decorated in bright festive lights. Many shows such as theatres would also occur. In

Bahrain Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. Situated on the Persian Gulf, it comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island, which mak ...

, families often celebrate the festival with an eid dinner consisting of

quzi Quzi (), also spelled as qoozi or ghoozi, is a popular rice-based dish and is considered one of Iraq's national dishes. It is served with very slowly cooked lamb, roasted nuts, and raisins served over rice. The dish was introduced into Turkey b ...

machboos Kabsa (), also known as Makboos () or Machboos ( ) is an Arab mixed rice dish that originates from Saudi Arabia or Yemen. It is commonly regarded as a national dish in all the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It can also be found in r ...

rice dishes, while popular sweets include

halwa Halva (also halvah, halwa, halua, and other spellings; ) is a type of confectionery that is widely spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, Central Asia, and South Asia. The name is used for a broad va ...

or khanfroosh (see

Bahraini cuisine The cuisine of Bahrain consists of dishes such as biryani, '' harees'', '' khabeesa'', '' machboos'', '' mahyawa'', '' quzi'' and '' zalabia''. Arabic coffee (''qahwah'') is the national beverage. Bahrain is a small island state near the weste ...

). Men typically wear

thawb A thawb, also known as a dishdashah or a kandura in other varieties of Arabic, is a garment traditionally worn by men in the Arab world. It is a long-sleeved, ankle-length robe that has regional variations in name and style. It can be worn in f ...

s and women wear

abaya The abaya (colloquially and more commonly, ', especially in Literary Arabic: '; plural ', '), sometimes also called an aba, is a simple, loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women in the Muslim world including m ...

s, the latter also painting

henna Henna is a reddish dye prepared from the dried and powdered leaves of the henna tree. It has been used since at least the ancient Egyptian period as a hair and body dye, notably in the temporary body art of mehndi (or "henna tattoo") resulti ...

on their hands or feet.

Saudis Saudis (; local dialects: , suʿūdiyyīn) or Saudi Arabians are the citizen population of the Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who speak the Arabic language, a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language, and share a common Ancesto ...

decorate their homes and prepare sumptuous meals for family and friends. They prepare new clothes and shoes for the festival. Eid festivities in Saudi Arabia may vary culturally depending on the region, but one common thread in all celebrations is generosity and hospitality. It is a common Saudi tradition for families to gather at the patriarchal home after the Eid prayers. Before the special Eid meal is served, young children will line up in front of each adult family member, who dispense money as gifts to the children.

Omanis Omanis () are the nationals of Sultanate of Oman, located in the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Omanis have inhabited the territory that is now Oman. In the eighteenth century, an alliance of traders and rulers transformed Muscat ...

would typically eat foods such as shuwa (slow-cooked lamb) with coffee (see

Omani cuisine Omani cuisine is part of the Khaleeji cuisine and is influenced by Arab, Pakistani cuisine, Iranian, Indian, Asian, Eastern Mediterranean, and African cuisine, reflecting Oman's position as a vast trading empire at the intersection of traditio ...

). In some places such as

Ibri Ibri () is a city and '' Wilāyat'' (Province) in the Ad Dhahirah Governorate, in northwest Oman. Ancient history Ibri Province (''Wilayat'' Ibri) is distinguished by archaeological landmarks including forts, castles, and towers. In 1979, t ...

, folklore songs and traditional dancing are often performed. In Yemen, Bint al-sahn is the preferred snack during Eid celebrations. In modern times, supermarkets, corporates, and malls compete to attract children during this time via advertising in newspapers and on TV, and by offering special promotions and arranging closed

Gargee'an Gargee'an (), sometimes spelled as Gerga'oon (Arabic: قرقاعون), is a semiannual celebration, observed primarily in Eastern Arabia. It takes place on the 13th, 14th or 15th night of the Islamic month of Ramadan. It is celebrated by children a ...

events to market themselves.

Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon

After the Eid al-Fitr prayer, the people of

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

will decorate the courtyards of the

al-Aqsa Mosque The Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Qibli Mosque or Qibli Chapel is the main congregational mosque or Musalla, prayer hall in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City (Jerusalem), Old City of Jerusalem. In some sources the building is also n ...

with toys for children who come from all Palestinian areas to participate in the Eid al-Fitr prayer rituals. Many Palestinians go out to visit the families of

Palestinian prisoners in Israel The future of Palestinians detained by Israel in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is considered central to progress in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. Cases of prison sentences include the charges of terrorism or being a ...

, visit the prisons themselves, and visit graves to lay wreaths on them. Palestinians and Jordanians decorate their homes and prepare sumptuous meals for family and friends. They prepare new clothes and shoes for the festival. Eid festivities in Palestine and Jordan may vary culturally depending on the region, but generosity and hospitality are common in all celebrations. It is a common Palestinian Jordanian tradition for families to gather at the patriarchal home after the Eid prayers. Before the special Eid meal is served, young children will line up in front of each adult family member, who dispenses money as gifts to the children. Jordanians also hang

fanous Fanous or Fanoos ( , ''pl.'' ), also widely known as Fanous Ramadan (),
2009 article; In

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

, many concerts take place during Eid al-Fitr by Lebanese and other Arab superstars. Musicians also perform on the Beirut waterfront. Other activities include art exhibitions.

Ma'amoul Ma'amoul ( ) is a filled butter cookie made with semolina flour. It is popular throughout the Arab world. The filling can be made with dried fruits like figs, Phoenix dactylifera, dates, or Nut (fruit), nuts such as pistachios or walnuts, and o ...

and

Kahk file:Ka3ek.JPG, Kaʾak in Jordan Kahk (, also , Kahk El Eid) is a small circular shortbread biscuit that originated in Egypt and is eaten across the Arab world, primarily to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. The same pastry is known more broadly across the ...

are popular cookie treats baked and consumed during Eid in the region.

Iraq

In Iraq,

kleicha Kleicha (; , ; ; ; ; ; ) is a type of Middle Eastern cookie. Kleicha comes in several traditional shapes and fillings. The most popular are the ones filled with dates (''kleichat tamur''). There are also sweet discs (''khfefiyyat''), as well as ...

(the traditional snack) and lamb are popular foods. The

Iraqi Kurds The Iraqi Kurds (, ) are the second largest ethnic group of Iraq. They traditionally speak the Kurdish languages of Sorani, Kurmanji, Feyli and also Gorani. Historically, Kurds in Iraq have experienced varying degrees of autonomy and marginal ...

tend to visit cemeteries to remember their lost ones one day before the festival. After the prayers, Iraqi Kurdish families would gather together for large breakfasts of rice and stew, as well as candies, nuts and caffeinated beverages.

Iran

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

, where the occasion is known as Eid-e-Fitr (Persian: ), several groups of experts representing the office of

Ayatollah Khamenei Ali Hosseini Khamenei (; born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third president from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei's tenure as Supreme Leader, ...

go to the different zones of the country at the last days of Ramadan to determine the date of Eid. Iranian Muslims take part in the Eid al-Fitr prayer and pay the . The Eid al-Fitr prayer, and the following sermon, has been led by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,

Supreme Leader of Iran The supreme leader of Iran, also referred to as the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution, but officially called the supreme leadership authority, is the head of state and the highest political and religious authority of Iran (above the Presi ...

, at

Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...

's Grand Mosalla mosque of Tehran (). The celebration is typically marked by a one- or two-day national holiday.

Africa

Egypt

Egyptians spend the first day of Eid al-Fitr to gather all family members and celebrate the Eid at public gardens. It is customary for children to also receive an , a small sum of money to be spent on activities throughout the Eid. Egyptians like to celebrate with others, so the streets are always crowded during the days and nights of Eid.

Nigeria

Eid is popularly known as Small Sallah in

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. During the day, people generally greet each other by saying Barka Da Sallah, which when translated means "Greetings on Sallah" in the

Hausa language Hausa (; / ; Hausa Ajami, Ajami: ) is a Chadic language spoken primarily by the Hausa people in the northern parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin and Togo, and the southern parts of Niger, and Chad, with significant minorities in Ivory Coas ...

. The celebrations last as long as three days.

Tunisia

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

celebrates Eid for three days (with preparations starting several days earlier), two of which are national holidays. Special Sweets and biscuits, including

Baklava Baklava (, or ; ) is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey. It was one of the most popular sweet pastries of Ottoman cuisine. There are several theories for the origin of th ...

and several kinds of "

ka'ak Ka'ak (; also transliterated kaak) or kahqa is the common Arabic word for cake or biscuit, in its various senses, and can refer to several different types of baked goods produced throughout the Arab world and the Near East. The bread, in Middle ...

marzipan Marzipan is a confectionery, confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal (ground almonds), sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract. It is often made into Confectionery, sweets; common uses are chocolate-covered marzipan and ...

cookie A cookie is a sweet biscuit with high sugar and fat content. Cookie dough is softer than that used for other types of biscuit, and they are cooked longer at lower temperatures. The dough typically contains flour, sugar, egg, and some type of ...

s are made or bought to give to friends and relatives on the day. kids receive gifts from parents and elderly relatives, usually money or even toys. They also invite close friends and relatives for the Eid dinner. After Eid dinner people love to sing and dance.

Somalia

In Somalia and other Islamic parts of the Horn region, Eid al-Fitr is observed by the Muslim communities. Celebrations marking the event are typically accompanied by elaborate banquets, where special dishes such as ''xalwo'' (halwo) and buskut (buskuit) are served.

Tanzania

Muslims in

Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...

celebrate Eid al-Fitr, when they normally dress in fine clothes and decorate their homes with lights. Special foods are prepared and shared with family and visitors, while children receive gifts. In

Zanzibar Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. It is located in the Indian Ocean, and consists of many small Island, islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island. ...

it is popular for locals to buy new clothing, while women would shop for handbags, necklaces and other clothing. For some youngsters Eid nights involve dancing at a club. Children would receive coins of money from locals.

South Africa

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

, hundreds of Muslims—each with something to share with others at the time of the breaking of the fast—gather at Green Point in the evening of the last day of Ramadan for the sighting of the moon. The

Maghrib Maghrib () is one of the five mandatory salah (Islamic prayers), and contains three cycles (''rak'a''). If counted from midnight, it is the fourth one. According to Shia and Sunni Muslims, the period for Maghrib prayer starts just after suns ...

(sunset) prayer is then performed in congregation and the formal moon-sighting results are announced thereafter.

Morocco

Eid es-Seghir is the name of Eid al-Fitr among

Moroccans Moroccans () are the Moroccan nationality law, citizens and nationals of the Morocco, Kingdom of Morocco. The country's population is predominantly composed of Arabs and Berbers (Amazigh). The term also applies more broadly to any people who ...

. Many families have a tradition of buying new clothes for their children during the holiday. Common food choices for eid dinner include

couscous Couscous () is a traditional North African dish a quote: “Couscous or seksu (Image 1) in Berber language or kuskus in Arabic is by origin a Numidian (the Berber population of Numidia) dish…” of small steamed granules of rolled semolina ...

, lamb or beef

brochette A skewer is a thin metal or wood stick used to hold pieces of food together. The word may sometimes be used as a metonym, to refer to the entire food item served on a skewer, as in "chicken skewers". Skewers are used while grilling or roastin ...

s and others. In the north, musicians play

Andalusian music Andalusia is a region in Spain. Andalusian may also refer to: Animals * Andalusian chicken, a type of chicken * Andalusian donkey, breed of donkey * Andalusian hemipode, a buttonquail, one of a small family of birds *Andalusian horse, a breed of ...

accompanied by fast clapping.

Ethiopia

Eid is an important event for Muslims in Ethiopia, who form the largest Muslim community in East Africa.

Sudan

Sudan Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Eritrea and Ethiopi ...

, where 97% of the population is Muslim, preparations for Eid begin the last few days of Ramadan. For days, ''ka'ak'' (sugar powdered cookies), ''bettifour'' (dry baked goods including dainty biscuits, baked meringues and macaroons—whose name are derived from the French ''petit four''), and popcorn are baked in large batches to serve to guests and to give to family and friends; dressy Eid clothes are either shopped for or sewn; girls and women decorate their hands and feet with

; and parts of the house may even be painted. The night before Eid, the whole household partakes in cleaning the house and yard and setting out the finest bedsheets, table cloths, and decorations. On the day of Eid, men and boys (and occasionally women and girls) will attend the Eid prayer. For the next 3 days, families will then visit each other, extended family, neighbors, and close friends. In these short visits, the baked goods, chocolates, and sweets are served, and often large lunches are prepared for the visiting well-wishers. Children are given gifts, either in the form of toys or money.

Senegal

The holiday is widely called Korité in

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

and elsewhere across

West Africa West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations geoscheme for Africa#Western Africa, United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Gha ...

. It is a national holiday, celebrated for three days, with families normally having new clothes made for the holiday. Gifts and donations are normally exchanged.

Ivory Coast

In the

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest List of ci ...

, Eid is a large feast among Muslims. The celebration lasts between two and ten days depending on region.

Central Asia

Tajikistan

In Tajikistan the holiday is known as ''Idi Ramazon'' and is a national holiday.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains, Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Kyrgyzstan, largest city. Kyrgyz ...

the day is known as Orozo Ait (). The local population celebrate in various ways such as by partying, eating and singing. Festivals often feature long distance

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

and other horse-based sports. People would tend to wear fancy and bright clothes, while people would sing Jaramazan tunes and receive cooked bread, candy or cash in return.

Uzbekistan

Ramazon Hayit or Roʻza hayiti is a public holiday in

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

and widely celebrated. Traditional pastry such as kush-tili,

plov Pilaf (), pilav or pilau () is a rice dish, or in some regions, a wheat dish, whose recipe usually involves cooking in stock or broth, adding spices, and other ingredients such as vegetables or meat, and employing some technique for achieving ...

and

chak-chak Chak-chak () is a popular fried dough food in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and other parts of Central Asia. Chak-chak is made from unleavened dough cut and rolled into hazelnut-sized balls, which are ...

are prepared by Uzbek families the day before Eid al-Fitr for consumption. Businesses tend to sell a high range of candies and children's toys during this period.

Kazakhstan

Known as Oraza Ait (Ораза айт) Kazakh Muslims tend to visit each other during the celebration and handing out fried doughnuts such as baursaki to others. However mutton, soup, tea and ''

kymyz ''Kumis'' ( , ), alternatively spelled ''coumis'' or ''kumyz'', also known as ''airag'' ( ), is a traditional fermented dairy product made from mare milk. The drink is important to the peoples of the Central and East Asian steppes, of Turk ...

'' (horse milk) are also popular food and drinks during the holiday.

South Asia

Afghanistan

In the predominantly

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

Muslim culture of

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

, Eid al-Fitr holds significant importance and is celebrated widely for three days. It popularly involves special festivities for children and the youngest members of families. The most common greeting is ''Akhtar mo Mubarak sha'' (Eid Mubarak) in the

Pashto Pashto ( , ; , ) is an eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family, natively spoken in northwestern Pakistan and southern and eastern Afghanistan. It has official status in Afghanistan and the Pakistani province of Khyb ...

-speaking community. Afghans start preparing for the Eid al-Fitr festival up to ten days prior by cleaning their homes (called ''Khana Takani'' in

Dari Dari (; endonym: ), Dari Persian (, , or , ), or Eastern Persian is the variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan. Dari is the Afghan government's official term for the Persian language;Lazard, G.Darī – The New Persian ...

). Afghans visit their local bazaars to buy new clothes, sweets, and snacks including ''

Jalebi ''Jalebi'' is a popular sweet snack in the Indian subcontinent, West Asia and some parts of Africa. It goes by many names, including ''jilapi'', ''zelepi'','' jilebi'', '' jilipi'', ''zulbia'', ''zoolbia'', ''jerry'', ''mushabak'', ''z'labia'' ...

'', ''Shor-Nakhod'' (made with chickpeas), ''Cake wa Kolcha'' (a simple cake, similar to pound cake). The traditional ''

Bolani Bolani (Dari: بولانی), also called Periki (Pashto: پارکی) is a stuffed flat-bread from Afghanistan, fried with a filling. It has a thin crust and can be stuffed with a variety of ingredients, such as potatoes or leeks but also grated ...

'' (vegetarian flatbreads) is a popular meal during Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan. On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Afghans will first offer their Eid prayers and then gather in their homes with their families, greeting one another by saying "''Eid Mubarak''" and usually adding "''Eidet Mobarak Roza wa Namazet Qabool Dakhel Hajiha wa Ghaziha,''" which means "Happy Eid to you; may your fasting and prayers be accepted by God, and may you be counted among those who will go to the Hajj-pilgrimage." Family elders will give money and gifts to children. It is also common practice to visit families and friends, which may be difficult to do at other times of the year. Children walk from home to home saying "''Khala Eidet Mubarak''" ("aunt happy Eid"), and they receive cookies or ''Pala''. Young girls and women apply henna "tattoo"s on their hands and feet. The older women while applying it too, don't do very complicated designs. The boys and young men in some communities might apply it as well but, with very simple designs like a circle in their palms or just coloring the fingertips. The older men might do those simple designs as well, but it is not that common. Henna is a "woman's" thing in Afghanistan when it comes to doing designs on their hands and feet. At night, multiple campfires are set around houses, sometimes to the point that entire valleys may initially appear to be engulfed in flame. Celebratory fire with automatic rifles, particularly tracer rounds, can also be expected in high density.

India

Eid is a public holiday in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. The holiday begins after the sighting of the new moon on

. On that evening, people head to markets to finish their shopping for Eid, for clothing and gifts, and begin preparing their food for the next day. Traditional Eid food often includes

biriyani Biryani () is a mixed rice dish originating in South Asia, made with rice, meat (chicken, goat, lamb, beef) or seafood (prawns or fish), and spices. To cater to vegetarians, the meat or seafood can be substituted with vegetables or pane ...

, ''

sheer khurma Sheer khurma or sheer khorma ( "milk and dates") is a festival vermicelli pudding prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of India and Central Asia. It is equivalent to shemai, a Bangladeshi desse ...

,'' and '' sivayyan'', a dish of fine, toasted sweet

vermicelli Vermicelli (, ; , literally "little worms"), is a traditional type of pasta round in section similar to spaghetti. In Anglosphere, English-speaking regions it is usually thinner than spaghetti, while in Italy it is thicker. It is typically made ...

noodles with milk and dried fruit, among other regionally-specific dishes. Women and girls also put

on each others' hands. In the following morning, Muslims go to their local mosque or

Eidgah Eidgah or Idgah, also Eid Gah or Id Gah ( "site of Eid bservances; ; ; ; ) is a term used in South Asian Islamic culture for the open-air enclosure usually outside the city (or at the outskirts) reserved for Eid prayers offered in the morning ...

for Eid Namaz and give Eid

zakat Zakat (or Zakāh زكاة) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakat is the Arabic word for "Giving to Charity" or "Giving to the Needy". Zakat is a form of almsgiving, often collected by the Muslim Ummah. It is considered in Islam a relig ...

before returning home. Afterwards, children are given

Eidi Eidi may refer to: *Eidi (gift), a Middle Eastern Arab and Muslim tradition of gifting cash to children and family members by older relatives or family friends as part of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha *Eiði Eiði (''Northern ...

(cash gifts) and friends and relatives visit each other's homes to eat and celebrate.

Pakistan

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

, Eid al-Fitr is also referred to as 'the Lesser Eid' (

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

: ,

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...

: ) or 'Sweet Eid' (

: ,

: ). People are supposed to give obligatory charity on behalf of each of their family members to the needy or poor before Eid day or, at most, before the Eid prayer, allowing for all to share in the joy of Eid. At home, family members enjoy a special Eid breakfast with various types of sweets and desserts, including

Kheer Kheer, khir or payasam is a pudding or porridge popular in the Indian subcontinent, usually made by boiling milk, sugar or jaggery, and rice. It can be additionally flavoured with dried fruits, nuts, cardamom and saffron. Instead of rice, ...

and the traditional dessert

Sheer Khurma Sheer khurma or sheer khorma ( "milk and dates") is a festival vermicelli pudding prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of India and Central Asia. It is equivalent to shemai, a Bangladeshi desse ...

, which is made of vermicelli, milk, butter, dry fruits, and dates. Eid is especially enjoyed by the kids, as they receive money in cash called "

" as gift from their relatives and elders. People tend to get fresh currency notes issued by

State Bank of Pakistan The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is the central bank of Pakistan. Its Constitution, as originally laid down in the State Bank of Pakistan Order 1948, remained basically unchanged until 1 January 1974, when the bank was nationalised and the scope ...

with which they give to the children.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Muslims Islam is the third largest religion in Sri Lanka, with about 9.7 percent of the total population following the religion. About 1.9 million Sri Lankans adhere to Islam as per the Sri Lanka census of 2012. The majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka a ...

like to eat watalappam,

falooda A ''falooda'' () is a Mughlai cold dessert made with vermicelli. It has origins in the Persian dish '' faloodeh'', variants of which are found across West, Central, South and Southeast Asia. Traditionally it is made by mixing rose syrup, ver ...

samosa A samosa () () (Hindi: समोसा) ( Persian: سمبوسه) is a fried South Asian and West Asian snack. It is a pastry with a savory filling that mostly consists of vegetables like spiced potatoes, onions, and peas, but can also include ...

gulab jamun Gulab jamun is a sweet confectionery or dessert, originating in the Indian subcontinent, and a type of mithai popular in India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Maldives and Bangladesh, as well as Myanmar. It is also common in nations with substantial popu ...

, sheerkurma,

oil cake A press cake or oil cake is the solid matter remaining after pressing something to extract the liquids. Their most common use is in animal feed. Some foods whose processing creates press cakes are olives for olive oil (''pomace''), peanuts f ...

and other national and regional dishes.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, Eid is celebrated with great pomp and festivities. The preparation for Eid in

starts from the last quarter of the holy month of

. The markets and shopping malls become overwhelmed with people. Those who live away from their families for their job or livelihood, they return to their home towns and villages to celebrate the festival with family members and relatives. In the

Chaand Raat Chaand Raat (, ) is a South Asian Cultural observance on the eve of the festival of Eid al-Fitr; it can also mean a night with a new moon for the new Islamic calendar, Islamic month Shawwal. Chaand Raat is a time of celebration when families and ...

children gather at the open field to see the

Hilal (crescent moon) The Hijri calendar (), also known in English as the Islamic calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to determine the proper days of Islamic holidays and rituals, such as the ann ...

of the month of

. In the occasion of Chand Raat, Bangladesh Television plays the popular Bengali Eid song,

O Mon Romzaner Oi Rozar Sheshe "O Mon Romzaner Oi Rozar Sheshe" (, ) is a popular Bengali Eid-ul-Fitr song, written by Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh. The song was written and composed in 1931 at the request of Nazrul's disciple, Abbasuddin Ahmed. The so ...

. Children make and exchange Eid cards. Girls decorate their hands with Mehendi. The Bengali sweet dish, ''

Shemai Shemai () is a traditional dessert in Bangladesh, Odisha and West Bengal, India. Shemai is popular during Eid, but consumed throughout the year. Shemai is a dessert form of vermicelli, soaked in sweet milk and often garnished with nuts. Ingredie ...

'' (

Vermicelli Vermicelli (, ; , literally "little worms"), is a traditional type of pasta round in section similar to spaghetti. In Anglosphere, English-speaking regions it is usually thinner than spaghetti, while in Italy it is thicker. It is typically made ...

) are served with

Roti Roti is a round flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is commonly consumed in many South Asian, Southeast Asian, Caribbean, East African, and Southeast African countries. It is made from stoneground whole-wheat flour, kno ...

Paratha Paratha (, also parantha/parontah) is a flatbread native to the Indian subcontinent, with earliest reference mentioned in early medieval Sanskrit, India. It is one of the most popular flatbreads in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. ...

Luchi Luchi is a deep-fried flatbread, made of maida flour. Luchi is popular in India (especially East and Northeast India) and in Bangladesh. Since luchi is made without rice or rice flour, it is a popular staple item at times when rice is to be av ...

as breakfast in

. Then people attend the Eid prayer in

. Children do "Salam" by touching the feet of the elderly members of the family. And elders give them a small amount of money which is known as "Salami" or "

", which is a major part of Eid happiness for children. Bengali dishes which are rich in flavor like

Biryani Biryani () is a mixed rice dish originating in South Asia, made with rice, meat (chicken, goat, lamb, beef) or seafood (prawns or fish), and spices. To cater to vegetarians, the meat or seafood can be substituted with vegetables or pane ...

Polao Pilaf (), pilav or pilau () is a rice dish, or in some regions, a wheat dish, whose recipe usually involves cooking in stock or broth, adding spices, and other ingredients such as vegetables or meat, and employing some technique for achieving ...

Pitha Pithas () are a variety of food similar to pancakes, dumplings or fritters, originating from India and Bangladesh. Pitha can be sweet or savoury, and usually made from a dough or batter, which is then steamed, fried or griddled. Very few varieties ...

, Kabab,

Korma Korma or qorma (; ; ; ; ) is a dish with its origin in the Indian subcontinent, consisting of meat or vegetables braised with yogurt, water or stock, and spices to produce a thick sauce or gravy. Etymology The English name is an anglicisation o ...

Chingri Malaikari Chingri malai curry or malai chingri, also known as prawn malai curry, is a Bengali curry made from tiger (bagda) and king prawns (chingri) and coconut milk and flavoured with spices. The dish is popular throughout Bengal and is served during we ...

, Shorshe Ilish,

Payesh Kheer, khir or payasam is a pudding or porridge popular in the Indian subcontinent, usually made by boiling milk, sugar or jaggery, and rice. It can be additionally flavoured with dried fruits, nuts, cardamom and saffron. Instead of rice, it ...

, Shirni,

Halwa Halva (also halvah, halwa, halua, and other spellings; ) is a type of confectionery that is widely spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, Central Asia, and South Asia. The name is used for a broad va ...

etc. are served by the women. In rural Bengal, unmarried Bengali girls would draw butterflies on the pithas, which has long been recognised by the Bengalis as a symbol of marriage. Wealthy Muslims in

also distribute

Zakat Zakat (or Zakāh زكاة) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakat is the Arabic word for "Giving to Charity" or "Giving to the Needy". Zakat is a form of almsgiving, often collected by the Muslim Ummah. It is considered in Islam a relig ...

alms to the poor people. People visit the house of relatives, neighbour, and friends and greet each other saying "

Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak () is an Arabic phrase that means "blessed feast or festival". The term is used by Muslims all over the world as a greeting to celebrate Eid al-Fitr (which marks the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (which is in the month of Dhu al-H ...

" (Happy Eid). People visits Eid fairs to enjoy the occasion. The fairs are arranged on the bank of a river or under a big banyan tree near the local bazaar. The tradition of Eid procession can be traced back to the Mughal era of Old Dhaka. Bangladesh has the biggest Eidgah, the

Gor-E-Shahid Eidgah Maidan Gor-E-Shahid Eidgah Maidan () is a Eidgah located in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, Dinajpur city in the division of Rangpur Division, Rangpur, Bangladesh. It is the largest eidgah in South Asia & the largest in Bangladesh. The number of devotees increased ...

. The

Dhanmondi Shahi Eidgah The Dhanmondi Shahi Eidgah (), also known as Mughal Eidgah (), is located in Saat Masjid road, in Dhanmondi residential area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Eidgah was built in 1640 CE during the Mughal era and has been in use for Eid celebration s ...

is a listed archaeological site of the Department of Archaeology and has historical, architectural and heritage values.

Sholakia Sholakia () is a locality near Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila, Kishoreganj town in Bangladesh. It is famous for its Eidgah where the largest congregation of Salat al Eid, Eid prayer in Bangladesh is held on the occasion of ''Eid ul-Fitr'', the day ...

holds the record of the largest Eid congregation in the world. On the second day of Eid, the longest running magazine show ''

Ityadi ''Ityadi'' (also known as Ittadi; ; ), pronounced EET-tah-dee, is a popular magazine television program in Bangladesh created and presented by Hanif Sanket that airs on Bangladesh Television. It is the longest running show on Bangladeshi televi ...

'' airs in Bangladesh Television. The show celebrates the rich

Bengali culture The culture of Bengal defines the cultural heritage of the Bengali people native to eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent, mainly what is today Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, where they form the dominant ...

and brings education into light. In rural Bengal, folk sports competitions are organised on this occasion of Eid to create festive atmosphere.

Nepal

Eid is a national holiday in Nepal.

Nepalese Muslims Nepalese Muslims (; ''Nepali/Nepalese Musalman/Muslims'') also known as Gorkhali Muslims are Nepalis who follow Islam. Their ancestors arrived in Nepal from different parts of South Asia, Central Asia and Tibet during different epochs, and have s ...

often consume the popular Nepalese dessert

sewai Sewai is a census town in the Chitarpur (community development block) CD block in the Ramgarh subdivision of the Ramgarh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Geography Location Sewai is located at . Area overview Ramgarh has a vibrant ...

(vermicelli pudding) to mark the occasion. It is commemorated throughout the country with large prayers, dinners and social celebrations.

Maldives

Celebration in the

Maldives The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, abou ...

include cultural performances.

Southeast Asia

Indonesia

Eid is known in Indonesia as ''Hari Raya Idul Fitri,'' or more popularly as ''

Lebaran is the Indonesian popular name for two Islamic official holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Indonesia, and is one of the major national holidays in the country. holiday officially lasts for two days in the Indonesian calendar, although th ...

'', and is a national holiday. People return to their home town or city (an exodus known as ''

mudik (sometimes also known as ) is an Indonesian language, Indonesian term for the activity where migrants or migrant workers return to their hometown or village during or before major holidays, especially Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr). Although the homecom ...

'') to celebrate with their families and to ask forgiveness from parents, in-laws, and other elders. Festivities start the night before with chanting the ''Takbir'' and lighting lamps. On the day itself, before

Eid prayer Eid prayers, also referred to as Salat al-Eid (), are holy holiday prayers in the Islamic tradition. The literal translation of the word "Eid" in Arabic is "festival" or "feast" and is a time when Muslims congregate with family and the larger ...

in the morning, ''

'' alms for the poor are distributed in the mosques. People gather with family and neighbors in traditional clothing and have a special Lebaran meal. Children are given money in colourful envelopes. Later, it is common for Muslims in Indonesia to visit the graves of relatives to ritually clean the grave. Muslims also visit the living in a special ritual called ''Halal bihalal'' sometime during or several days after Idul Fitri. In Indonesia, special dishes include

ketupat ''Ketupat'' (in Indonesian and Malay), or ''kupat'' (in Javanese and Sundanese), or ''tipat'' (in Balinese) is a Javanese rice cake packed inside a diamond-shaped container of woven palm leaf pouch. Originating in Indonesia, it is also ...

rendang Rendang is a fried meat or dry curry made of meat stewed in coconut milk and spices, widely popular across Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, where each version is considered local cuisine. It refers to both a cooking m ...

opor ayam Opor ayam () is an Indonesian dish from Central Java consisting of chicken cooked in coconut milk.Patrick Witton and Mark Elliott (2003)''Lonely Planet Indonesia'' Lonely Planet Publications, p. 108 The spice mixture (''bumbu'') includes galan ...

and

gulai Gulai is a type of spiced stew commonly found in the culinary traditions of Indonesia, Malaysia and other parts of Maritime Southeast Asia, including Brunei, Singapore and southern Thailand. Closely associated with both Minangkabau and Malay c ...

are served with gathering with other people and give some

money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are: m ...

to their relatives. ''Lebaran'' continues with drumming and street parades.

Malaysia and Singapore

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

, and

Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...

, Eid is more commonly known as ''Hari Raya Aidilfitri'' ( Jawi: هاري راي عيدالفطري), ''Hari Raya Idul Fitri'', ''Hari Raya Puasa'', ''Hari Raya Fitrah'', ''Hari Lebaran'' and sometimes Aidilfitri. ''Hari Raya'' means 'Great Day'. It is customary for workers in the city to return to their home town to celebrate with their families and to ask forgiveness from parents, in-laws, and other elders. Forgiveness is often requested without citing any specific error to avoid arguments. This is known in Malaysia as ''

balik kampung Balik Kampung (English language, English: "return to village") is a Malay language, Malay term used in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei for the massive exodus during festive seasons such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali and Chinese New Year. Durin ...

'' (homecoming). The night before Hari Raya is filled with the sounds of takbir in the mosques or musallahs. In many parts of Malaysia, especially in the rural areas, ''pelita'' or ''panjut'' or ''lampu colok'' (as known by Malay-Singaporeans) (oil lamps, similar to tiki torches) are lit up and placed outside and around homes, while

tiki torches A tiki torch is a pole-mounted torch, typically made of bamboo, that originated in the tiki culture of the mid-20th-century United States, which has increased in popularity and spread to other places as a popular party decoration with a tropical ...

themselves are also a popular decoration for that holiday. Special dishes like

lemang Lemang (Minangkabau: ''lamang'') is a Minangkabau traditional food made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, and salt, cooked in a hollowed bamboo tube coated with banana leaves in order to prevent the rice from sticking to the bamboo. Originating ...

(a type of

glutinous rice Domestication syndrome refers to two sets of phenotypic traits that are common to either domesticated plants or domesticated animals. Domesticated animals tend to be smaller and less aggressive than their wild counterparts; they may also hav ...

cooked in bamboo) and Malay delicacies such as various '' kuih-muih'' are served during this day. It is common to greet people with "Salam Aidilfitri" or "Selamat Hari Raya" which means "Happy Eid". Muslims also greet one another with "maaf zahir dan batin", which means "Forgive my physical and emotional (wrongdoings)". It is customary for Muslim-Malaysians to wear a traditional cultural clothing on Hari Raya. The Malay variant (worn in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and

Southern Thailand Southern Thailand (formerly Southern Siam and Tambralinga) is the southernmost cultural region of Thailand, separated from Central Thailand by the Kra Isthmus. Geography Southern Thailand is on the Malay Peninsula, with an area of around , bo ...

) is known as the

Baju Melayu Baju Melayu ( Jawi: ) is a traditional Malay costume for men, originated from the court of Malacca Sultanate and is traditionally worn by men in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, parts of Indonesia (especially Sumatra and Kalimantan), southern Phili ...

, shirt worn with a ''sarong'' known as ''kain samping'' or songket and a headwear known as ''songkok''. Malaysian women's clothing is referred to as

Baju Kurung Baju Kurung ( Jawi: ) is a traditional attire of Malays and traditionally worn by women in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and southern Thailand. This type of traditional attire is the national dress of Brunei and Malaysia. In Indonesi ...

and

baju kebaya A kebaya is an upper garment traditionally worn by women in Southeast Asia, notably in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Southern Thailand. Kebaya is an upper garment opened at the front that is traditionally made from lightweight fa ...

. It is a common practice however for the Malays in Singapore and Johor, Malaysia to refer to the ''baju kurung'' in reference to the type of outfit, worn by both men and women. Geylang Serai light up

, especially in the major cities, people take turns to set aside a time for ''open house'' when they stay at home to receive and entertain neighbours, family and other visitors. It is common to see non-Muslims made welcome during Eid at these ''open houses''. They also celebrate by lighting traditional

bamboo cannon A bamboo cannon (, Jawi: مريام بولوه ; ; , Indonesian: ''meriam bambu'', Javanese: ''mercon bumbung'') is a type of home-made firecracker which is popular during the Eid season in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as during New Year' ...

firecracker A firecracker (cracker, noise maker, banger) is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang, usually for celebration or entertainment; any visual effect is incidental to ...

s known as ''meriam buluh'', using

kerosene Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in Aviation fuel, aviation as well as households. Its name derives from the Greek (''kērós'') meaning " ...

in large hollow

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of mostly evergreen perennial plant, perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily (biology), subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family, in th ...

tubes or Chinese imported crackers. The traditional bamboo cannon, ''meriam buloh'', and fireworks are notoriously loud and can be very dangerous to operator, bystander and even nearby buildings. These are usually bamboo tubes in diameter and long, filled with either: water and several hundred grams of

calcium carbide Calcium carbide, also known as calcium acetylide, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of . Its main use industrially is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide. The pure material is colorless, while pieces of technica ...

, or heated kerosene, then ignited by match. In Malaysia, children are given token sums of money, also known as " duit raya", from their parents or elders.

Brunei

In Brunei, a special centrepiece is made to coming guests by young ladies of the family called the ''kepala meja'' ('head of the table') where a decorated cake is presented so any man who wished to propose and take her in marriage would cut the cake in response. Here is also where special dishes unique to this country are served, such as

kelupis Kelupis (which literally translates as 'glutinous rice rolls' in English) is a traditional kuih for the Lun Bawang, Bruneian Malay people in the country of Brunei and in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia Malaysia is a country ...

with prawn or tahai (smoked

sardinella ''Sardinella'' is a genus of fish in the family Dorosomatidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are abundant in warmer waters of the tropical and subtropical oceans. Adults are generally coastal, schooling, marine fish but ...

) sambal and curry.

Thailand

There are almost 3 million Muslims in Thailand. In the southernmost provinces, wearing gold on Eid is a popular practice there along with neighbouring Myanmar. In some parts of the country, Muslim residences would open their homes with food specialities to visitors.

Cambodia and Vietnam

The

Chams The Chams ( Cham: , چام, ''cam''), or Champa people ( Cham: , اوراڠ چمڤا, ''Urang Campa''; or ; , ), are an Austronesian ethnic group in Southeast Asia and are the original inhabitants of central Vietnam and coastal Cambodia be ...

comprised the bulk of the Muslim population in both Cambodia and Vietnam, and the Eid is also known as "''Roya Haji''" among the Muslims there. Muslims of

Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...

often open their homes to friends and neighbours to share food together. Men, women and children dress in fine attire, while the preferred dress colour is white, symbolising the purity of the soul after a month of Ramadan. It is customary during Eid for Cambodian Muslims to donate 3 kilograms of rice to the poor or disabled. Eid is also celebrated by the much smaller

Muslim community ' (; ) is an Arabic word meaning Muslim identity, nation, religious community, or the concept of a Commonwealth of the Muslim Believers ( '). It is a synonym for ' (, lit. 'the Islamic nation'); it is commonly used to mean the collective comm ...

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

, which makes up less than 0.1% of the population. The Muslim community in Vietnam are mostly of the same ethnic as the

Cham people The Chams (Cham language, Cham: , چام, ''cam''), or Champa people (Cham language, Cham: , اوراڠ چمڤا, ''Urang Campa''; or ; , ), are an Austronesian peoples, Austronesian ethnic group in Southeast Asia and are the original inhabi ...

Laos

Eid al-Fitr in Laos is celebrated by the small Muslim community, including

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

, Malay, and expatriate Muslims. In cities like

Vientiane Vientiane (, ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of Laos. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Mekong River at the Thailand, Thai border, it comprises the five urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture and had a population of 840,000 ...

and

Savannakhet Savannakhet (, ; ), officially named Kaysone Phomvihane (); since 2005 and previously known as ''Khanthaboury'' (; ), is a city in western Laos. It is the capital of Savannakhet Province. With a population of 125,760 (2018), it is the second-l ...

, Muslims gather for Eid prayers, followed by communal meals and

Zakat al-Fitr In Islam, Zakat al-Fitr or Zakat al-Fitrah (''the Alms of Human Nature''), is a form of alms-giving (in the form of staple food) which Islam considers required of every able Muslim at the end of Ramadan. The purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to enable ...

. Traditional spiced rice dishes and grilled meats are shared, making the celebration a modest yet meaningful occasion that fosters unity and cultural diversity.

Myanmar

During Ramadan, in small towns and big villages with significant Muslim populations, Burmese Muslim youth organize singing teams called Jago (meaning "wake up"). Jago teams usually do not use musical instruments apart from the occasional use of harmonica mouth organs. The roving groups of singers will take the tunes of popular Hindi movie songs, replaced with Burmese lyrics and invocations about fasting, the principles of Islam, and the benefits of Salat.

Philippines

Among

Muslim Filipino Islam in the Philippines is the second largest religion in the country, and the faith was the first-recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines. Historically, Islam reached the Philippine archipelago in the 14th century, through contac ...

s in the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

, Eid al-Fitr is commonly known as ''Hariraya'', ''Buka'', ''Hariraya Buka'', or ''Hariraya Buka Puasa''. "Eid al-" is often replaced with ''Eid'l'' in the country's local English variant. It is also known as ''Wakas ng Ramadan'' ( "End of Ramadan"), ''Araw ng Raya'' ("Feast Day"), or ''Pagtatapos ng Pag-aayuno'' ("End of the Fast") in Filipino. It was proclaimed a legal holiday for Muslim Filipinos in 1977 by Presidential Decree No. 1083. In 2002, this was upgraded to a public national holiday by Republic Act No. 9177. It is also sometimes known by its Malay name "Hari Raya Puasa"; and by its

Indonesian Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to: * Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia ** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago ** Indonesian ...

name "

". Its beginning is decided by the sighting of the crescent moon (''hilal''), followed by morning prayers in mosques or public plazas. When this occurs can sometimes differ depending on the regional government. In some places it is based on the physical sighting of the ''hilal''; while in others it is determined by the

Regional Darul Ifta' of Bangsamoro The Bangsamoro Darul Ifta' (BDI-BARMM) is an Islamic advisory council which has jurisdiction over the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. History The Regional Darul Ifta (RDI) of Bangsamoro was created during the existence of the Aut ...

(RDI-BARMM) or the

National Commission on Muslim Filipinos National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ...

(NCMF), especially during cloudy days. The sighting of the ''hilal'' is traditionally marked by the beating of drums in some regions. In modern times, this has evolved into a noise barrage known as "Mobile Takbir", where celebrants, especially youths, rev their motorcycles or honk their horns while driving through the streets. Guns are also sometimes fired. These practices have been discouraged by the

Grand Mufti A Grand Mufti (also called Chief Mufti, State Mufti and Supreme Mufti) is a title for the leading Faqīh, Islamic jurist of a country, typically Sunni, who may oversee other muftis. Not all countries with large Sunni Muslim populations have Gra ...

Bangsamoro Bangsamoro, officially the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM; ; ), is an autonomous region in the Philippines, located in the southwestern portion of the island of Mindanao. Replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Minda ...

and local government officials as not being in accordance with Islamic teachings as well as being dangerous and causing accidents in the past. Hariraya is characterized by the giving of gifts (known as ''Eid''), food sharing (''salu-salo''), and visiting the elderly and the sick. Food, alms, and basic necessities are also donated to the poor, a practice known as ''Fitrana'' or ''Zakat al-Fitr''. This is usually done a day before Eid al-Fitr. Various traditional sweet delicacies of the different Muslim Filipino ethnic groups are served for breakfast, including daral,

dodol ''Dodol'' is a sweet toffee-like sugar palm-based confection commonly found in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Originating from the culinary traditions of Indonesia, it is also popular in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippi ...

, browas, tinagtag,

panyalam ''Panyalam'' or ''panyam'', is a traditional Philippine cuisine, Filipino-Moro people, Bangsamoro fried rice cake, rice pancake. It is made with galapong, ground glutinous rice, ''muscovado'' (or brown sugar), and coconut milk mixed into a bat ...

, jampok, and so on. Various activities also mark the celebrations, including dancing, boat races, horse races, and

carabao Carabaos () are a genetically distinct population of swamp-type water buffaloes ('' Bubalus bubalis kerabau'') from the Philippines.FAO 2013''Philippine Carabao/Philippines''In: Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. Food and Agriculture ...

fighting in cities and towns with significant Muslim populations. In

Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila ( ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; ), is the capital region and largest List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines, metropolitan area of the Philippines. Located ...

, the celebrations are usually held at the Manila Golden Mosque and the

Quirino Grandstand The Quirino Grandstand, formerly known as the Independence Grandstand, is a grandstand located at Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines. History Contrary to popular belief, the first Independence Grandstand was not originally located on the pres ...

. The celebration lasts for three days.

East Asia

China mainland

mainland China "Mainland China", also referred to as "the Chinese mainland", is a Geopolitics, geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addit ...

, out of 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by at least 10 ethnic groups that are predominantly Muslim. These groups are said to total 18 million according to official statistics, but some observers say the actual number may be much higher. It is also a public holiday in China in certain regions, including two Province Prefecture Level regions,

Ningxia Ningxia, officially the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region in Northwestern China. Formerly a province, Ningxia was incorporated into Gansu in 1954 but was later separated from Gansu in 1958 and reconstituted as an autonomous ...

and

Xinjiang Xinjiang,; , SASM/GNC romanization, SASM/GNC: Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Sinkiang, officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the China, People' ...

. All residents in these areas, regardless of religion, are entitled to either a one-day or three-day official holiday. Outside the Muslim-majority regions, only Muslims are entitled to a one-day holiday. In Xinjiang province, Eid al-Fitr is even celebrated by the

Han Chinese The Han Chinese, alternatively the Han people, are an East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Greater China. With a global population of over 1.4 billion, the Han Chinese are the list of contemporary ethnic groups, world's la ...

population. During the holiday, supplies of mutton, lamb and beef are distributed to households as part of a welfare program funded by government agencies, public and private institutions, and businesses. In

Yunnan Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 47.2 million (as of 2020). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the Chinese provinces ...

, Muslim populations are spread throughout the region. On Eid al-Fitr, however, some devotees may travel to Sayyid 'Ajjal's grave after their communal prayers. There, they will conduct readings from the Quran and clean the tomb, reminiscent of the historic annual Chinese Qingming festival, in which people go to their ancestors' graves, sweep and clean the area, and make food offerings. Finally the accomplishments of the Sayyid 'Ajall will be related in story form, concluded by a special prayer service to honour the hundreds of thousands of Muslims killed during the

Panthay Rebellion The Panthay Rebellion (1856–1873), also known as the Du Wenxiu Rebellion (Tu Wen-hsiu Rebellion), was a rebellion of the Muslim Hui people and other (Muslim as well as non-Muslim) ethnic groups against the Manchu-led Qing dynasty in southwe ...

, and the hundreds killed during the Shadian incident.

Taiwan

The Eid al-Fitr prayer and celebration in

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

draws much attention from local media. Special features of the event are regularly carried out in the newspapers and aired on televisions. These phenomena gives a boost to the Islamic activities in Taiwan. Muslims, mostly

blue collar men and women, typically gather at

Taipei Main Station Taipei Main Station () is a major metro and railway station in the capital Taipei, Taiwan. It is served by Taipei Metro, the Taiwan High Speed Rail, and Taiwan Railway. It is also connected through underground passageways to Taipei main stati ...

to perform the prayer.

Europe

Turkey

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

, nationwide celebrated holidays are referred to as , and Eid al-Fitr is referred to as both ("Ramadan ") and (" of Sweets/Sugar"). It is a time for people to attend prayer services, put on their best clothes (referred to as , often purchased just for the occasion), visit all their loved ones (such as relatives, neighbors, and friends), and pay their respects to the deceased with organised visits to cemeteries. It is also customary for young children to go around their neighborhood, door to door, and wish everyone a "Happy ", for which they are awarded candy, chocolates, traditional sweets such as

baklava Baklava (, or ; ) is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey. It was one of the most popular sweet pastries of Ottoman cuisine. There are several theories for the origin of th ...

and

Turkish delight Turkish delight, or lokum () is a family of confectionery, confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; traditional varieties are often fl ...

, or a small amount of money at every door. Mosques, minarets and public fountains tend to be lighted up for the occasion, and popular events such as

Sufi music Sufi music refers to the devotional music of the Sufis, inspired by the works of Sufi poets like Rumi, Hafiz, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrow, and Khwaja Ghulam Farid. Qawwali is the best-known form of Sufi music and is most commonly found in ...

concerts,

dervish Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from ) in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage is found particularly in Persi ...

dancing ceremonies, and

shadow puppet Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-o ...

shows are held in the nights. Eid al-Fitr Ottoman Greeting card

Ramadan in the Ottoman era was passed with great happiness due to the existence of various kinds of entertainment. The streets would be filled with performances by musicians, magicians and other talented people that suitable for all ages, so children could enjoyed it. Poetry had a huge influence on Ottoman classical music, in fact served as basis. At iftar, they had popular song to be played that called fasil music along with some instruments such as tambourine and flute. Next, mahya illuminantions represents gratitude towards God with lamps of olive oil, barb, and ropes which would form certain sentences or images as desired. This decoration lightened up the darkness of the night with the beauty of its light. During Ramadan, many restaurants and cafes may have limited operating hours during the day and may be closed during fasting hours. In the middle of the night drummers circulate through towns and villages to wake sleepers so they can prepare Sahur, the big early-morning meal to be eaten before the fast begins again at sunrise. They tend to make their noise around 02:30 and 03:00 am, and they make sure everyone hears them. Turkish people invites anyone to break the fast together in the order of inviting older relatives first, other relatives, neighbors who are quite close, and some areas that have village's leaders, teachers, and caretakers where the order has been determined by tradition. Ramazan Bayram - 5603235241

Albania

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

n Muslims generally celebrate the day as with most other countries. The day is known as Fitër Bajrami or Bajrami i Madh in Albania. Worshipers attend a dawn prayer and a sermon, after which people visit each other, plan gatherings and give gifts to children.

Magiritsa Magiritsa ( ) is a Greek soup made from lamb offal, associated with the Easter (Pascha) tradition of the Greek Orthodox Church. Accordingly, Greek-Americans and Greek-Canadians sometimes call it "Easter soup", "Easter Sunday soup", or "Easter ...

(Greek Easter soup) and

are popularly consumed.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

, Eid al-Fitr is locally known as Ramazanski bajram. It is a three-day public holiday. Like Albanians, worshipers attend a dawn prayer and a sermon, after which people visit each other, give gifts to children, and popularly consume

Greece

Eid al-Fitr (i.e. Seker Bayram, Sugar Feast) () is celebrated in Greece mainly in the

Western Thrace Western Thrace or West Thrace (, '' ytikíThráki'' ), also known as Greek Thrace or Aegean Thrace, is a geographical and historical region of Greece, between the Nestos and Evros rivers in the northeast of the country; East Thrace, which lie ...

region from the local Muslim minority (

Turks Turk or Turks may refer to: Communities and ethnic groups * Turkish people, or the Turks, a Turkic ethnic group and nation * Turkish citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Turkey * Turkic peoples, a collection of ethnic groups who speak Turkic lang ...

Pomaks Pomaks (; Macedonian: Помаци ; ) are Bulgarian-speaking Muslims inhabiting Bulgaria, northwestern Turkey, and northeastern Greece. The strong ethno-confessional minority in Bulgaria is recognized officially as Bulgarian Muslims by th ...

and

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: People, characters, figures, names * Roma or Romani people, an ethnic group living mostly in Europe and the Americas. * Roma called Roy, ancient Egyptian High Priest of Amun * Roma (footballer, born 1979), born ''Paul ...

), along with the other two major celebrations,

Kurban Bayram Eid al-Adha () is the second of the two main festivals in Islam alongside Eid al-Fitr. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. Celebrations and observances are generally carried forward to the ...

(Sacrifice Feast) () and

Hıdırellez Hıdırellez or Hıdrellez ( or ''Hıdrellez''; or ''Xıdır Nəbi''; ; Romani language: ''Ederlezi'') is a folk holiday celebrated as the day on which the prophets Al-Khidr (''Hızır'') and Elijah#Islamic tradition, Elijah (''İlyas'') met o ...

. On the day of the Bayram, family gathers together, wear their best clothes, and celebrate with a common meal, after attending the morning prayer. The women prepare and offer sweets to family and visitors, while small children go around and pay their respects to the elderly by kissing their hands. The elder in turn reward them with candies, sweets, and small amounts of money. Local Muslim shopkeepers close their shops this day, while Muslim minority schools have a 5-day holiday for the feast.

Russia

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

where 14 million Muslims reside as of 2017, Eid al-Fitr is often known as () and is a public holiday in the republics of

Adygea Adygea ( ), officially the Republic of Adygea or the Adygean Republic, is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia. It is situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe. The republic is a part of the Southern Federal District, and covers an a ...

Bashkortostan Bashkortostan, officially the Republic of Bashkortostan, sometimes also called Bashkiria, is a republic of Russia between the Volga river and the Ural Mountains in Eastern Europe. The republic borders Perm Krai to the north, Sverdlovsk Oblast ...

Dagestan Dagestan ( ; ; ), officially the Republic of Dagestan, is a republic of Russia situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe, along the Caspian Sea. It is located north of the Greater Caucasus, and is a part of the North Caucasian Fede ...

Ingushetia Ingushetia or Ingushetiya, officially the Republic of Ingushetia, is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe. The republic is part of the North Caucasian Federal District, and shares land borders with the country o ...

Kabardino-Balkaria Kabardino-Balkaria (), officially the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 904,200. Its capital is Nalchik. The area contains the highest mountain in ...

Karachay-Cherkessia Karachay-Cherkessia (), officially the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus. It is administratively part of the North Caucasian Federal District. As of the 2021 census, Karachay-Cherkessia has a popul ...

Tatarstan Tatarstan, officially the Republic of Tatarstan, sometimes also called Tataria, is a Republics of Russia, republic of Russia located in Eastern Europe. It is a part of the Volga Federal District; and its capital city, capital and largest city i ...

and

Chechnya Chechnya, officially the Chechen Republic, is a Republics of Russia, republic of Russia. It is situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe, between the Caspian Sea and Black Sea. The republic forms a part of the North Caucasian Federa ...

. Most festive dishes consist of

mutton Lamb and mutton, collectively sheep meat (or sheepmeat) is one of the most common meats around the world, taken from the domestic sheep, ''Ovis aries'', and generally divided into lamb, from sheep in their first year, hogget, from sheep in thei ...

, but salads and various soups are also popular. As the Muslim population is diverse, traditional festive dishes differ between regions – for example in Tatarstan

pancakes A pancake, also known as a hotcake, griddlecake, or flapjack, is a flat type of batter bread like cake, often thin and round, prepared from a starch-based Batter (cooking), batter that may contain eggs, milk, and butter, and then cooked on a ...

are popularly baked. Russian Muslims go to festive worships at mosques in the morning of Eid al-Fitr, after which they often visit older relatives as a sign of respect. In the North Caucasian republics, children popularly go past various houses with a bag to get it filled with

candy Candy, alternatively called sweets or lollies, is a Confectionery, confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, also called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, including chocolate, chewing gum ...

, specially stored by locals for the celebration. In Dagestan, eggs with bright stickers is a popular traditional dish served there during Eid al-Fitr. People generally dress more during this day – women choose bright dresses with

bead A bead is a small, decorative object that is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes of a material such as stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood, or pearl and with a small hole for threading or stringing. Beads range in size from under 1 ...

s while older people would wear

papakha The papakha (; , ; ; , ; , ; ; ) is a sheepskin hat worn by men throughout the Caucasus and also in uniformed regiments in the region and beyond. The word ''papakha'' is of Turkic languages, Turkic origin (''papakh)''. The word ''papak'' is al ...

s. In many places in the country master classes are also hosted where families take part in activities such as

embroidery Embroidery is the art of decorating Textile, fabric or other materials using a Sewing needle, needle to stitch Yarn, thread or yarn. It is one of the oldest forms of Textile arts, textile art, with origins dating back thousands of years across ...

and

clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...

making.

Ukraine

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

, Eid al-Fitr () as well as

have been official state holidays since 2020. During the festival,

Ukrainian Muslims Islam in Ukraine is a minority religious affiliation with Muslims representing between 1% and 2% of the total population. The religion has a long history in Ukraine dating back to Berke Khan of the Ulug Ulus (Golden Horde) in the 13th centur ...

(most of whom are

Crimean Tatars Crimean Tatars (), or simply Crimeans (), are an Eastern European Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group and nation indigenous to Crimea. Their ethnogenesis lasted thousands of years in Crimea and the northern regions along the coast of the Blac ...

) often gather with loved ones.

United Kingdom

Although Eid al-Fitr is not a recognized public holiday in the United Kingdom, many schools, businesses, and organisations allow for at least a day's leave to be taken for religious celebrations. In the United Kingdom, individuals take part in prayers and play games for Eid al-Fitr.

Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, which competes in the , the second level of the English football league system. They have played home matches at Ewo ...

had an Eid prayer on their pitch in 2022.

Americas

United States

US Army 51420 Soldiers celebrate end of Ramadan

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, alternate side parking (street cleaning) regulations are suspended on Eid. Beginning in 2016, New York City public schools also remain closed on Eid. Other school districts close on Eid, including Irvington New Jersey's school district and Vermont's Burlington School District. The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...

(USPS) has issued several Eid postage stamps, across several years—starting in 2001—honoring "two of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha." Eid stamps were released in 2001–2002, 2006–2009, 2011, and 2013. They are also being issued as Forever Stamps. All Eid stamps to date show the work of

Mohamed Zakariya Mohamed Zakariya (born 1942 in Ventura, California, Ventura, California) is an American master Islamic calligraphy, calligrapher and an Islam in the United States, American Muslim convert. Biography Mohamed Zakariya was born in 1942 in Ventur ...

. Mosques in North America offer Eid prayer. For Eid during the

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States On December 31, 2019, China announced the discovery of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan. The first American case was reported on January 20, and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Secreta ...

, some mosques required temperature checks and for participants to socially distance. Other mosques gathered at public parks to celebrate. By 2021, some Muslims were returning to mosques to pray for the holiday.

Trinidad and Tobago

The Muslim population of

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...

popularly eat sawine/

, a sweet dessert, to mark the celebration, but the feast also consists of curries,

roti Roti is a round flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is commonly consumed in many South Asian, Southeast Asian, Caribbean, East African, and Southeast African countries. It is made from stoneground whole-wheat flour, kno ...

s, and chicken and

curry goat Goat curry ( Malay: ''kari kambing'', Indonesian: ''kari kambing'' or ''gulai kambing''), curried goat, or curry goat is a curry dish prepared with goat meat, originating from the Indian subcontinent. The dish is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisi ...

. Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago, having been declared in 1962.

Suriname, Guyana

Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday in

Suriname Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...

and

Guyana Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic British West Indies. entry "Guyana" Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the co ...

Argentina

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

, Eid () is officially a non-working holiday for

Oceania

Australia

Australian Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr in a variety of ways depending on their specific cultural background. Many local celebrations take place in community centers and mosques.

In the Gregorian calendar

Although the date of Eid al-Fitr is always the same in the Islamic calendar, the date in the Gregorian calendar falls approximately 11 days earlier each successive year, since the Islamic calendar is

lunar Lunar most commonly means "of or relating to the Moon". Lunar may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Lunar'' (series), a series of video games * "Lunar" (song), by David Guetta * "Lunar", a song by Priestess from the 2009 album ''Prior t ...

and the Gregorian calendar is

solar Solar may refer to: Astronomy * Of or relating to the Sun ** Solar telescope, a special purpose telescope used to observe the Sun ** A device that utilizes solar energy (e.g. "solar panels") ** Solar calendar, a calendar whose dates indicate t ...

. Hence if the Eid falls in the first ten days of a Gregorian calendar year, there will be a second Eid in the last ten days of the same Gregorian calendar year, as happened in 2000 CE. The Gregorian date may vary between countries depending on the local visibility of the new moon. Some expatriate Muslim communities follow the dates as determined for the nearest Islamic country to their country of residence, while others follow the local dates of their home country. The following table shows predicted dates and announced dates based on new moon sightings for Saudi Arabia. Because the Hijri year differs by about 11 days from the AD year, Eid al Fitr can occur twice a year. The next occurrence of this will be in 2033.

Gallery

File:Eid al-Fitr prayer, Bandar Torkaman - 26 June 2017 05.jpg, Eid al Fitr prayer, Torkaman, Iran 2017 File:Jama Maszid.jpg, Eid al-Fitr mass prayer at Delhi's

Jama Masjid A congregational mosque or Friday mosque (, ''masjid jāmi‘'', or simply: , ''jāmi‘''; ), or sometimes great mosque or grand mosque (, ''jāmi‘ kabir''; ), is a mosque for hosting the Friday noon prayers known as ''jumu'ah''.See: * * * * ...

, India File:Muslims in Britain- Eid Ul Fitr Celebrations, 1941 D5129.jpg, British Muslims in performing the

Eid prayers Eid prayers, also referred to as Salat al-Eid (), are holy holiday prayers in the Islamic tradition. The literal translation of the word "Eid" in Arabic is "festival" or "feast" and is a time when Muslims congregate with family and the larger ...

East London Mosque The East London Mosque (ELM) is situated in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets between Whitechapel and Aldgate East. Combined with the adjoining London Muslim Centre and Maryam Centre, it is one of the largest mosques in Western Europe accomm ...

during the celebration, 1941 File:Muslims in Britain- Eid Ul Fitr Celebrations, 1941 D5141.jpg, British Muslim soldiers and merchant seamen from India, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, Transjordan, Syria, Arabia, Aden and Somaliland, performing the Eid prayers at the East London Mosque in 1941 File:Eid celebration.jpg, Muslims in Singapore celebrating Eid al-Fitr File:Hidangan Lebaran.JPG, An Indonesian family celebrating ''lebaran'' with various culinary dishes specific to this holiday File:Celebrating Eid in Tajikistan 10-13-2007.jpg, Family celebrating eid,

Tajikistan Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...

File:Commercial Street, Bangalore (7870991636).jpg, Lit up Commercial Street in

Bangalore Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

, India during Eid al-Fitr File:Istiqlal Mosque Eid ul Fitr Jamaah 1.JPG, Eid al-Fitr mass prayer in

Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta Istiqlal Mosque (; ) in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the List of largest mosques, ninth largest mosque in the world in terms of worshipper capacity. Built to commemorate Indonesian independence, this List of mos ...

, Indonesia

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

* *
The Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia (with computed and announced dates for Eid al-Fitr)

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Eid al-Fitr

Fitr Eid al-Fitr () is the first of the two main festivals in Islam, the other being Eid al-Adha. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the en ...

Islamic terminology Ramadan Fasting in Islam Shia days of remembrance Public holidays in Algeria Public holidays in Azerbaijan Public holidays in Brunei Public holidays in Indonesia Public holidays in Malaysia Public holidays in Singapore Public holidays in Saudi Arabia Public holidays in Morocco Public holidays in Lebanon Public holidays in Egypt Public holidays in Sri Lanka Public holidays in India Public holidays in Bangladesh Public holidays in Pakistan Public holidays in Turkey Public holidays in Uzbekistan Desserts Sugar confectionery Confectionery Annual events Islamic festivals