Eid Mubarak!
The evening of June 3rd begins Eid al-Fitr [1] which translates to the Festival of Breaking of the Fast. It is the only day during the Holy month that Muslims are prohibited to fast. This celebration marks the official end of Ramadan. In some countries, this holiday can last for three days or even longer depending on the day of the week it falls on.
Regardless if one is celebrating Eid in the United States for one day or extending the celebration over several days like in Egypt, many of the festival rituals are the same. Generally, the morning of Eid begins by selecting and adorning new clothes, comparable to how Christians prepare for Easter Sunday. After getting dressed up, Muslims visit a mosque or another space dedicated to large gatherings such as a field or community center. They offer zakat [2] (a charitable monetary donation to the poor and needy) and recite Eid prayers.
Ahmad Keshk, a third year political science major mirrors these rituals by stating, “At the conclusion of Ramadan, we celebrate Eid. For me, this usually means traveling to the Mosque and praying the Eid prayer followed by a nice brunch with my family.” Similarly, Belal Asfour, a freshman computer science major shares, “On the day of Eid, I usually attend the Eid Prayer with my family then go to my grandmother’s house to exchange gifts and spend the rest of the day with family.”
Overall, Eid is a celebration that includes specially prepared dishes, greeting cards, and gift giving. Gifts serve as a way to illustrate their month of sacrifice. However, the focus of all the festivities is to praise God and show Him gratitude for the continual guidance throughout the month.
Until next year, khair mubarak and jazakallah khair!
[1] Eid changes year to year based on the lunar calculations. Many calendars this year recognize June 4th as Eid. Like Jewish holidays, this observance begins the evening prior to the marked calendar date.
[2] Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for those with the means to give.