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Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the most celebrated festivals in Islam. It marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims all over the world fast from sunrise to sunset. In the month of Shawwal, Eid-ul-Fitr is a holiday for Muslims. 

One of the most popular Islamic holidays is Eid ul Fitr.  On this day, Muslims thank Allah for keeping them healthy and giving them the strength to fast for the whole month of Ramadan. Muslims pray and thank Allah for the good things He has given them. Eid-ul-Fitr 2023 is a festival that Muslims look forward to because it is meant to bring them closer together. On Eid ul Fitr, people have big feasts, wear bright new clothes, visit family, and wish each other a happy Eid.

What is Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr is one of the Islamic calendar‘s two major holidays. It’s an Arabic term that means “Festival of Breaking Fast,” as it occurs at the end of Ramadan.

Because Muslims come from a variety of cultures and languages, you may hear Eid al-Fitr referred to by different names. To name a few, Eid al-Fitr is known as Bayram in Turkey, Hari Raya in Malaysia, and Korité in Senegal.

When is Eid al-Fitr in 2023?

Eid al-Fitr starts on the first of Shawwal and lasts until the third of Shawwal (Shawwal is the name of the tenth Islamic month.) Based on the Islamic lunar calendar, it is a three-day holiday.

On the solar Gregorian calendar, Eid al-Fitr is a feast that moves around. Every year, it will happen about 11 days earlier than it did in the last Gregorian year. The holiday isn’t tied to a certain season; it can happen in all four seasons about once every 40 years.

On a Gregorian calendar, the exact date of Eid al-Fitr is sometimes uncertain because lunar months start when the new crescent is seen. Some Muslims like to see the crescent with their own eyes before calling it a new lunar month. Others celebrate Eid al-Fitr based on how the crescent moon is calculated by science.

This year, Eid al-Fitr is expected to happen from Friday, April 21, 2023, to Sunday, April 23, 2023.

Eid-ul-Fitr Significance and Importance

The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic word ramada or ar-ramad, which means “scorching heat.” It is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with Shahada (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawn (fasting), and Haji (pilgrimage) (Pilgrimage). The date of Eid this year is May 3. But the date may change depending on when the crescent moon is seen. It’s an official holiday.

The event marks the end of Ramadan, which is the holy month of fasting in Islam and is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. Eid-al-Fitr is called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” On this day, people wear new clothes, make special foods, give to charity, and wish their family and friends “Eid Mubarak.”

People generally believe that good deeds are repaid 10 times in Islam, so the 30-day fasting season of Ramadan brings prosperity, harmony, and peace to all who dedicate themselves to the sacred cause.

Read More: Healthy Iftar Recipes Ramadan

Traditions

Eid-ul-Fitr is a time for families to get together and devote themselves to prayer. Muslims visit mosques to pray under an open sky. It is also customary to wear a fresh new outfit on Eid-ul-Fitr.

Families also shower gifts on their loved ones. Though children often receive most of the attention, gifts are freely distributed among friends and relatives.

How do you Celebrate Eid al-Fitr?

There are as many ways to celebrate Eid al-Fitr as there are people! Here are five well-known cross-cultural customs:

1. Eid al-Fitr is a time for charitable giving. Zakat (literally “that which purifies”) is a mandatory charity given to those in need by those who meet the eligibility criteria for wealth.
2. On Eid al-Fitr, put on your best outfit. It is recommended that you wear new clothes for Eid, or your best set of clothes if they are not new. Many families’ Eid rituals include Eid shopping or sewing.
3. There is a unique Eid prayer. On the first day of Eid, a special sermon and morning prayer are held in the congregation. So instead of 5, there are 6 prayers on this day. The prayers are concluded by hugging or kissing those who are praying next to you and wishing them peace and a happy Eid!
4. The Eid Takbir is another popular tradition. This is a praise that is recited (in the congregation and/or individually) throughout the Eid days, especially after each of the five daily prayers and the Eid prayer.
5. Eat! Fasting is prohibited on Eid. After a month of fasting, this is a time to gather with family and friends and eat together.

Pay Zakat and do Charity

Eid ul Fitr is also thought of as a day to help others. Muslims give Zakat al-Fitr, which is a charity payment, as a way to show their gratitude to Allah. A lot of Muslims help out in soup kitchens and food banks by giving food to people who need it. Muslims also use Eid ul Fitr as a time to think about their actions and decide if they have helped the well-being of those who are less fortunate.

Exchange Gifts and Greetings

A big part of Eid ul Fitr is giving and receiving gifts, greetings, and well-wishes. Muslims all over the world get new clothes, give out sweets, and say “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Have a blessed Eid,” to each other. Eidi is the name for when adults give money and gifts to children. People share sweet treats like dates and cookies with their friends, neighbors, coworkers, loved ones, and even strangers. People in the same family buy gifts for each other. Most of the time, the youngest members of a family get the most gifts. Muslims also decorate their homes and places of work with bright colors.

Important Facts about Eid ul Fitr

Here are some interesting Eid ul Fitr facts:

• Eid ul Fitr is known by various names around the world, including ‘Ramazan Bairami’ in Azerbaijan, ‘Korite’ in Senegal, ‘Lebaran’ in Indonesia, and ‘Hari Raya Puasa’ in Malaysia.
• Eid is observed twice a year. First, at the end of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr is observed, followed by Eid al-Adha.
• Eid ul Fitr is one of the world’s largest religious festivals, celebrated by more than 2 billion Muslims worldwide.
• Eid ul Fitr traditionally lasts three days. However, depending on when it occurs in a given year, the festivities can last even longer.
• The date of Eid ul Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.

Eid ul Fitr 2023 is a day of joy, forgiveness, prayers, and celebration for Muslims all over the world, celebrated in the month of Shawwal. Everyone, from children to adults and senior citizens, eagerly awaits the end of fasting and the arrival of festive cheer.