By Benafsha Nasiri
Friday is the 1st day of Eid April 21, 2023.
Eid al-Fitr is a holy Islamic festival, celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan. The Arabic name ‘Eid al-Fitr’ can be translated as ‘festival of the breaking of the fast’. The Ramadan fasting is over and the month of Shawwal (the tenth month of the Islamic calendar) has begun.
Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr to give thanks for the end of the month of fasting, and to thank Allah for the strength (or ‘taqat’) he blessed them with throughout Ramadan, which is typically a time where Muslims practice exceptional self-restraint in all areas of their lives.
Eid al-Fitr is a time of forgiveness and making amends, where families can come together and grudges are laid to rest. It’s a joyful and peaceful festival, celebrated annually by more than 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide.
On the day of Eid, Muslims usually gather at their local mosques in the morning to perform Eid prayers, and then hold large gatherings for families and friends. Celebrations usually last for three days and include the sharing of banquets and traditional sweets. Children often receive Eid gifts, and everyone will wear their best clothes.
Although it’s a festival of food for many Muslims, Eid is about more than eating delicious meals with family and friends. It is also a time of forgiveness, self-reflection and peaceful contemplation.
