Eid is the festival held by Muslims to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, where Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset every day.
Known as Eid ul-Fitr, which means 'Breaking of the Fast', it falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar.
But when is Eid al-Fitr in 2023 and how do you wish someone a Happy Eid?
Read on below for all you need to know about Eid ul-Fitr.
The start of Eid ul-Fitr follows the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting undertaken by Muslims from sunrise to sunset each day.
The majority consensus among Islamic scholars is that Ramadan began on the evening of Wednesday, 22 March, 2023. This means that it is set to end on the evening of Thursday, 20 April.
In 2024, Ramadan is expected to start on the evening of Sunday, March 10, and run up until Monday, April 8, 2024.
How to wish someone a Happy Eid?
The most commonly-used term to wish someone a Happy Eid is 'Eid Mubarak' (pronounced 'Eed'- rhyming with 'feed' and 'Mubarak', is pronounced 'Mu-ba-rack').
The Arabic word 'mubarak' means 'blessed'. 'Eid Mubarak' can also be translated as ‘Blessed Celebration’ or ‘Happy Eid.’
Eid al-Fitr is surpassed by Eid al-Adha as the holiest holiday for Muslims.
That Eid (celebrated this year on the evening of June 28 and day of June 29) occurs during the Hajj season and commemorates the sacrifices and devotion of Abraham and his family.
How will Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr and what is Zakat ul-Fitr?
Zakat ul-Fitr, or the Zakat of Breaking the Fast of Ramadan, is the special obligatory alms paid by all Muslims at the end of the Ramadan fasting month.
It is also called Sadaqat al-Fitr “the Charity of Breaking the Fast” of Ramadan and Muslims have to give a portion of their wealth to those in need.
Zakat ul-Fitr must be done before the Eid prayer, which is only to be performed in congregation, building family and community spirit. Mosques throughout the UK will host Eid prayers at different times throughout the morning of the Friday.
Eid prayers also often take place in large, open spaces, such as fields or halls.
Once Eid prayers are finished, Muslims will traditionally visit their relatives and friends to wish them a happy Eid and often exchange gifts or sweets. This has lent itself to another name for Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Sweets.
Why does the date change?
The date of Eid al-Fitr changes due to a difference between the solar Gregorian calendar and the Hajri calendar, which is governed by the time the moon takes to go through each of its lunar phases.
This means that the date of Eid ul-Fitr is not fixed in the Gregorian calendar.
This is because there are 365 days in a solar year, which equates to approximately 354 in a lunar year. Consequently, the dates of Islamic holidays move forward by 10 to 11 days each year.
In the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr always falls on the first day of Shawwal, which is the tenth month.
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