How to Celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

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A complete guide to Eid and why it’s important

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: March 30, 2023 Approved

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Muslim people celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid twice a year to commemorate 2 significant occasions. These 2 holidays have many names, but they are most commonly called Eid al-Fitr, or the “Festival of Breaking Fast,” and Eid al-Adha, or the “Festival of the Sacrifice.” Both include prayer and charity towards the poor, and both are days of celebration with family and friends, but they do have some key differences that distinguish them. Our simple guide will fill you in on everything that goes into this twice-yearly event, including breaking fasts, attending prayer, giving gifts, and making sacrifices.

Things You Should Know

Observe Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha at the end of the time of pilgrimage.
Wear your best clothes and perfumes or colognes on both holidays, and take a bath or shower to clean yourself before you attend prayer.
Celebrate Eid al-Fitr by breaking your fast, attending morning prayer, eating sweet foods, and giving to less fortunate people in your community.
Celebrate Eid al-Adha with an animal sacrifice, and afterward distribute the meat to your family, neighbors, and the poor.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Eid al-Fitr

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1
Celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr means "Festival of the Breaking the Fast," and occurs on the first day of the lunar month Shawwal, after observing the fasting month of Ramadan . Traditionally, the start of Eid coincides with the arrival of the new moon, however this can differ based on geographic location, and so different religious authorities may declare the beginning of Eid on different days. ^{[1]
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- Because Eid al-Fitr is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, it can occur at almost any time of the Gregorian year, and its date varies from year to year. Search online or ask a Muslim practitioner to find out when the holiday occurs this year.
- Individual Muslim countries may have an official 3-day (or more) government holiday planned in advance to cover all possibilities. ^{[2]
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- Eid al-Fitr 2023 is about from the sundown of Friday April the 21st to the sundown of Saturday April the 22nd. ^{[3]
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Bathe in the morning and put on best clothes. It’s traditional to perform ghusl , or take a shower or bath, before attending prayers during Eid. ^{[4]
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Research source} Clothing traditions vary from culture to culture, but Eid is a time to present your best self, which includes looking and smelling good. Many people buy new clothes just for the occasion, and those who can't afford to still make an effort to appear well-dressed. ^{[5]
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- Wearing colognes and perfumes is encouraged, in order to present your best self in every respect–not just appearance-wise! ^{[6]
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- Muslim women in South Asia often decorate their skin with henna the night before Eid. ^{[7]
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Break your fast shortly after sunrise. Muslims are not allowed to fast on the day of Eid al-Fitr, since they are celebrating the end of fasting during Ramadan, so eating food with your family before you attend prayer is encouraged. Sometimes, celebrants follow the Prophet Muhammad's example by breaking their fast by eating an odd number (usually 1 or 3). ^{[8]
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- Aside from dates, there’s no particular breakfast that must be eaten on Eid, and traditions vary by culture, but many people make Balaleet (an omelet with vermicelli), Sheer Khorma (sewai, dates, and milk), or Sajiyeh (a pan-fried beef dish). ^{[9]
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- People often make Arabic coffee and serve it during both Eids. ^{[10]
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Attend an Eid prayer on the morning of Eid. Imams (Muslim spiritual leaders) hold special Eid prayers in the early morning of the holiday, usually at a large central mosque, an open field, or a stadium. Everyone is urged to participate in Eid prayers , including children. ^{[11]
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Research source} After the prayer is completed, worshippers embrace each other and say "Eid Mubarak," or "Blessed Eid," to wish each other good will. ^{[12]
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Research source} The event ends with a sermon by the imam.
- Recently, many people have opted to attend Eid prayers virtually, or to keep their in-person celebrations within their households. ^{[13]
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Eat sweet foods and spend time with family. Eid al-Fitr is sometimes called the "Sweet Holiday," since sweet foods are usually eaten in celebration of the end of Ramadan fasting. ^{[14]
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Research source} Mosques may provide sweet food before or after the Eid prayer, but many people also cook desserts themselves and celebrate at home.
- There are no requirements for the food you eat (other than following halal), but regional traditions include dates, halwa, falooda, cookies with milk, baklava, and vermicelli noodles. ^{[15]
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Give gifts to young people and to the poor. Adults usually give children and young people money or gifts on Eid, and occasionally trade gifts between each other as well. ^{[16]
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Research source} Families will often visit their neighbors and extended relatives after the morning celebration to wish them a happy holiday and exchange these gifts. "Zakat al-fitr," or the duty to give to the poor on this day, is a requirement for every Muslim who has the means to do so. ^{[17]
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- Zakat al-fitr is done so that poor people may receive the resources to take the day off from work and participate in Eid, as well. ^{[18]
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- Typically, each individual's contribution to the poor is about the cost of a meal, and may take the form of money, food, or clothing.
7
Celebrate the rest of the day with meals, rest, or Eid events. Many people eat a family lunch and/or dinner of meat, potatoes, rice, barley, or any food you like. Some rest in the afternoon to recover from a day that began at sunrise. Others attend fairs and events organized for Eid, party with their friends in the evening, or visit the graves of deceased friends and family. ^{[19]
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- In many regions, Eid is celebrated for 3 days, or celebrated on different days by different Muslim groups. If you like, you can wake up early to repeat the celebration and prayer the next day, as well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Eid al-Adha

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1
Celebrate Eid al-Adha at the end of the time of pilgrimage. Eid al-Adha is celebrated directly after the Hajj , or pilgrimage to Mecca, and commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son. This is usually on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month Dhul Hijjah (about 10 weeks after Eid al-Fitr), but this can vary based on the practices of local religious authorities. ^{[20]
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Research source} Muslims everywhere celebrate this holiday, even if they did not perform hajj this year.
- Just like Eid al-Fitr, this holiday is determined by the lunar calendar, so it does not fall on the same date on the Gregorian (Western) calendar each year, and can vary quite a bit.
- Unlike Eid al-Fitr, there is no special focus on sweets or breaking your fast, since it does not come immediately after Ramadan, which is a time of fasting.
- Eid al-Adha 2023 lasts from about sundown of Wednesday the 28th of June to sundown of Thursday the 29th of June. ^{[21]
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As with Eid al-Fitr, Muslims (or sometimes only the men) attend an Eid prayer followed by a sermon early in the morning on the day of Eid al-Adha. Everyone does their best to dress up and look presentable, bathes in the morning, and wears new clothes if they can afford to purchase them. ^{[22]
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Sacrifice an animal and distribute the meat. Each individual or household who can afford to do so sacrifices and cooks a healthy animal in accordance with halal, to commemorate the animal God sent to Abraham to replace his son Ishmael as a sacrifice. One third of it is eaten by the household or group that sacrificed it, ⅓ of it is given to extended family and friends, and the last ⅓ is given to poor or hungry people. ^{[23]
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- People often gather in groups to hold a barbecue, or to eat the meat that's been cooked in a pit oven. Other foods are usually eaten as well, but there are no special requirements apart from following halal.
- People who can’t make a sacrifice for any reason might send money to someone who can, make the sacrifice with the help of a butcher, or make a charitable donation in the same amount of the cost of an animal. ^{[24]
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How can a non-Muslim celebrate Eid with Muslim friends?

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Non-Muslim people can give gifts and enjoy traditional sweets with their Muslim friends.

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How do I celebrated Eid if the rest of my family doesn't?

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You can celebrate with your local imam, or with another Muslim family you may know. You can also fast, break your fast, and recite prayers alone, if you can't celebrate with other people.

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I'd like my son (non-Muslim) to take part in Eid at his nursery. What can I do that is in line with tradition and what clothing could he wear as a non-Muslim? Thanks.

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You son can simply wear his best clothing. In addition, you might make traditional sweets and give him a small gift according to the traditions of Eid.

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How to Celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

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