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Eid Al Fitr is usually celebrated on the first day of
the Islamic month of Shawal on the sighting of the new crescent. Marking
the end of a month of fasting, Eid means festivity while Fitr stands for
breaking the fast, and Eid Al Fitr symbolises the breaking of the fast
celebrations.
Normally a three-day celebration, Eid brings friends and family together
to share the joy of preparing sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes,
giving gifts and decorating homes.
History
The Prophet Mohammed talked about Eid Al Fitr celebrations at the end of
the holy month of Ramadan when, in Medina, he came across people
celebrating on two specific days. The Prophet told them that it was
better for such celebrates to take place during Eid Al Fitr at the end
of Ramadan and Eid Al Adha.
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For Muslims, both festivals are occasions to show gratitude to Allah, as
well as an occasion for fun and entertainment.
Common customs and rituals
Eid Al Fitr is celebrated with common greetings worldwide such as ‘Eid
Mubarak', which means Blessed Eid, or ‘Eid Sa‘eed', which translates to
Happy Eid. Many countries have their own local greetings. In Malaysia
they say 'Selamat hari Raya', and in Turkey, they might say 'Bayramınız
kutlu olsun'.
Typically on Eid, Muslims wake up before sunrise, perform Fajr prayers
and, in keeping with Prophet Mohammed’s tradition, take a shower, clean
their teeth, wear new clothes (or the best available), apply perfume and
head out to perform Eid prayers. Some people visit graveyards to pray
for departed family members before performing Eid prayers.
On the way to the Eid prayer, usually performed in an open field or
large mosques, people may recite takbir - 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,
Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha ilal-lahu wal-Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
wa-lilla hil hamd' - loosely and briefly translated into ‘Allah is
Great. There is but one Allah. Praise and thanks be to Allah.’
Eid prayer is performed in congregation. There is no call to prayer, as
is the case with the five obligatory daily prayers. Eid prayer is
followed by a sermon and some supplications seeking Allah's forgiveness,
mercy, peace and blessings for all beings across the world.
Children get Eid money, or ‘Eidiyah’, usually from immediate relatives.
In South East Asia, the Eid money for children is known as 'duit raya'.
Muslims are also encouraged to give alms, forgive and forget differences
or animosities that may have occurred during the year, and an obligatory
act of charity called 'Zakat Al Fitr' is paid to the poor before
praying.
Subcontinent celebrations
In Kashmir, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, celebrations
begin a day before the actual festive day when women shop for
delicacies, buy new colourful clothes and accessories, and get their
hands coloured with henna. LINK TO HENNA STORY Special dishes are
prepared for Eid in anticipation of guests who will be visiting after
Eid prayers on the next day. LINK TO EID DESSERTS STORY Celebrations
often continue for an entire week.
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In Afghanistan, Eid Al Fitr is commonly called 'Kochnai Akhtar' and
celebrations last for three days.
GCC Nations (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait)
As with most countries, families gather after Eid prayers and have
special meals. Children get 'Eidiyah' and toys, and people go out of
their way to be kind and generous to the less fortunate.
It is common for family members of different households to put large
rugs in selected neighbourhood streets or mosques and offer food and
drinks to workers and people in their neighbourhood.
Some GCC countries decorate the streets with colourful lights, organise
spectacular fireworks amd host folklore dances, orchestras and other
recreational programmes to mark Eid festivities.
Most people go to local parks or recreational areas to watch fireworks
and have a picnic while enjoying rides and fairs organised by
municipalities.
South East Asia
In countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Eid may be
called 'Hari Raya Aidilfitri' or 'Hari Raya Puasa'. Vibrant day and
night markets offer a selection of cookies, clothes and homemade sweets,
as it is normal for everything to close down for a few days to celebrate
'Hari Raya'.
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Many people from the cities head to their hometowns to celebrate Eid;
this tradition is commonly called 'Balik Kampung'.
Oil lamps are lit around houses for decoration and some families light
firecrackers to celebrate. People greet each other by saying 'Selamat
Hari Raya Idul Fitri', which means 'Happy Eid', adding 'Maaf zahir batin',
which is a way to ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoings.
Traditional dishes like beef rending (fried beef in coconut milk) and
lemang (glutinous rice cake cooked in bamboo) are common in most homes
during Eid.
In the Philippines, Eid Al Fitr is known as 'Wakas ng Ramadan' and their
traditions are similar to those of most of Asia.
Europe/ North America and South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand and Fiji
islands)
In non-Muslim countries, Eid Al Fitr is usually not a public holiday.
The first day of Eid would start with Muslims performing Eid prayers and
attending sermons. Generally, Eid celebrations are more subdued, partly
because most Muslim communities are small and scattered around the
different cities. Most Eid activities, such as prayers and feasts, tend
to revolve around mosques, community centres, convention halls or parks.
People in the community visit relatives and friends, and some families
may take their children to malls, amusement parks, skating rinks or
parks.
Turkey
Eid Al Fitr, a national holiday in Turkey, is often seen as a festival
of sweets and celebrations. Young people greet elders by kissing their
right hand and placing it on their own foreheads, while saying their Eid
greetings. Children visit relatives and neighbours, greeting everyone
and getting chocolates, traditional sweets or money in return. Many
people use the holiday to attend concerts or more traditional forms of
entertainment like shadow-theatre or musical performances.
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Africa
In Nigeria, Eid is popularly known as 'Small Sallah'. Celebrations
usually last for two days, and the traditional greeting is 'Barka Da
Sallah' - literally 'Greetings on Sallah'. Muslims observe their Eid
prayers at designated praying grounds before heading home to partake in
festive meals, generally prepared by the women of the household.
In Egypt, after Eid prayers and family visits, people head to parks,
malls, cinemas, or go on Nile cruises or or cultural site visits, while
enjoying special Eid programmes on TV and at movie theatres.
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