عيد الفطر (ʻīd al-fiṭr or Eid al-Fitr ) is an Islamic feast celebrated on the first day of the month of شوّال (Shawwāl) in the Islamic calendar. عيد الفطر (ʻīd al-fiṭr) is a celebration of the end of the month of رمضان (Ramaḍān), during which المسلمون (al-muslimūn, Muslims) practice صوم (sawm, or fasting) during daylight hours.
It is also called العيد الصغير (al-ʻīd al-saghīr, the small feast) in contrast to العيد الكبير (al-ʻīd al-kabīr, the big feast) also known as عيد الأضحى ʿ(īd al-aḍḥā, the feast of the sacrifice). (Read more about īd al-aḍḥā or Eid al-Adha here.)
The way that Muslims celebrate this feast varies depending on local customs as well as personal convictions about the importance of different ritual elements of the feast day.
Most families celebrate by preparing a series of big meals over the course of as many as four days. Families enjoy special foods, especialy meat and حلويات (halwiyāt, sweets) such as بقلاوة (baqlāwah).
Many Muslims attend صلاة (ṣalāh, the highly scripted prayer commonly described as an obligatiory “pillar” of Islamic practice) with a congregation (جمعة, jum’ah) at their local mosque for عيد الفطر.
It is typical for Muslims to celebrate this holiday by giving ضدقة الفطر (ṣadaqat al-fiṭr, meaning voluntary charity for breaking the fast) or زكاة الفطر (zakāt al-fiṭr, obligatory alms for breaking the fast), in the form of cash, food or new clothing to poor non-relatives.
It is also typical to buy new clothing on the occasion of the عيد الفطر, and to give عيدية (ʻīdīyah, gifts of money and clothes, among other things) to family members.
Arabic speakers may greet each other on feast days with any of the following expressions:
كل سنة وانت طيب
kul sanna w-anta ṭayib
May you be well this year as ever.
كل عام وانت بخير
kul ‘ām w-anta bikhayr
May you be well this year as ever. (same meaning as above)
عيد سعيد
‘īd Sa‘īd
Happy ‘īd
عيد مبارك
‘īd mubārak
May your ‘īd be blessed!
