India will be celebrating Eid or Eid Al-Fitr tomorrow. Eid Al-Fitr marks the conclusion of the month of Ramadan. Muslims all over the world celebrate this festival on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Muslim lunar calendar Hijri. The celebration of Eid Al-Fitr consists of feasts and get-togethers of family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. The festival teaches us to express gratitude to the almighty for everything that he has bestowed upon us. Apart from this, many other facts are unknown to a large number of people.
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10 facts about Eid Al-Fitr
In this article, let’s try to figure out 10 facts you might not know about Eid Al-Fitr.
1. Celebrations last up to 3 days
Most of the non-Muslims think that Eid Al-Fitr is a one-day affair. But contrary to this notion, the festivities last for up to three days. In some parts of the world, especially Gulf countries, it may even extend to four days. The celebrations typically consist of praying, feasting, decorating houses, exchanging Eidi, and many more rituals.
2. The date of the festival may differ
The date of Eid Al-Fitr is not the same for every geographic location. This is because moons occur differently throughout the world. As an effect, some Muslim communities decide the date with the physical sighting of the first crescent new moon. On the other hand, some communities make use of calculations, helpful in finding out the commencement of Islamic months. For instance, Muslims in Saudi Arabia take into consideration the Umm al-Qura calendar, signifying the calculation of the Hijri calendar.
3. Celebration of the end of fasting
During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They do this to honor the time the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. The fasting is not limited to food, it also asks for abstinence from drinking, smoking, and other hedonistic pleasures.
4. Serving the poor
Not many people know that the festival also promotes the idea of charity and benevolence. On Eid Al-Fitr, Muslims fulfill their duty towards the downtrodden and underprivileged people by offering Zakat-Al-Fitr or Fitrana. Those Muslims who are in good shape financially, give Eid gifts to the poor. They offer sweets, food, clothes, and money to bring happiness and joy to the lives of the downtrodden.
5. Names vary from one country to another
It is also a lesser-known fact that the name of Eid Al-Fitr differs from one geography to another. The festival is also called Ramzan Bairami in Azerbaijan, Korite in Senegal, Hari Raya Puasa in Malaysia, and Lebrun in Indonesia. Although the names might differ, the soul and essence of the festival remain constant throughout the world.
6. The White House celebrated its first Eid Al-Fitr in 1996
Under the presidency of the erstwhile U.S. President Bill Clinton, his wife Hillary Clinton organized the first Eid Al-Fitr celebrations at the White House in 1996. Eminent figures of the American Muslim community attended the dinner. People ranging from students to politicians and leaders attended the celebrations. The tradition has continued since then.
7. Unique celebrations across the world
Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world. In Egypt, people serve unique cuisines such as Kahk and Fata while celebrating the festival for more than four days. In Saudi Arabia, there is a peculiar tradition of putting out carpets on the street to share meals with neighbors. On the other hand, many people extend their wishes with a bunch of Eid Mubarak flowers.
8. The importance of dates to break fast
Eating dates after fasting during Ramzan is healthy since dates are considered helpful in maintaining blood glucose levels. They are integral to many Eid sweets too. Many tasty recipes consist of dates, such as Maamoul or date-filled cookies.
9. The Lesser Eid
In the Muslim community, Eid Al-Fitr is considered one of two important celebrations. The other one is Eid Al-Adha, also known as “Greater Eid”. Eid Al-Adha celebrates the devotion of Ibrahim, who was ready to make the sacrifice of his loving child to the almighty.
10. Eid Prayers
Muslims come together for prayers in mosques or outdoor locations. After this, some even pay a visit to the graves of their loved ones.
These were some of the lesser-known facts of Eid Al-Fitr. We hope the article will boost your knowledge of the Eid celebrations.
