When the new moon glows above us in the night sky, it is time to bode farewell to the blessed month of Ramadan. That also means it’s time for a grand celebration! Eid-Al-Fitr (Celebration of Breaking Fast) is here to embrace us and is a sign of victory for Muslims who fasted and practice restraints from the worldly desire for a whole month!
Celebrated by 1.8 billion all across the globe, the Eid is an occasion that is not only full of smiles and laughter, it is also a day of tears. It is the tears of absolution and appreciation, where we seek forgiveness from those we have wronged and to start afresh with no hatred or any form of bad blood with one another.
To get to know our lovely Muslim friends and co-workers better, here are 5 interesting facts of the Eid you might not know about.
Celebration for the End of Ramadan
As Muslims all over the world have endured and embraced a full month of fasting, the celebration is to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and shift into the month of Syawal.
With the Eid, the best foods are served and enjoyed together with relatives and family members, and oftentimes, friends and colleagues are also invited to open houses to share the warmth and welcoming atmosphere of the celebrations too!
New Moon Sightings
Unlike Christmas which is celebrated yearly on the 25th of December or many festive occasions alike, Ramadan and Eid-Al-Fitr are not set on a specific day in our Gregorian calendar. This is because, the Islamic days are based on the moon (lunar) calculations instead of the sun (solar). Therefore, we can catch an amazing phenomenon once every decade, where 2 Eid-Al-Fitr celebrations can be observed in a single year.
And instead of waiting for the clock to strike 12, Muslims wait for the sun to set and if the new moon is sighted, Eid will fall on that night itself. Quite an interesting and unique practice, I must say.
Morning of Eid
On the morning of Eid, Muslims all over the world will go to the nearest mosque or open field in the masses to perform prayer in congregation and after that, many families will visit the graves of their loved ones to do a little cleanup and also in remembrance of those who have passed.
Muslims are recommended to be in their finest garments and wear their best perfumes to commemorate the victory of a whole month of fasting. You can see so many colourful outfits and the adorable thing is, many families have fun wearing colour matching outfits, from babies to their grandparents, making the occasion even more delightful.
Even in the White House?
Yes! You read that right! The White House has been celebrating Ramadan Eid dinner since 1996 with the President of the United States as well as the First Lady playing host to the esteemed event. It is attended by prominent members of the American Muslim Community which includes politicians, community leaders as well as students.
Charity to the Less Fortunate
One of the 5 major pillars of Islam is donating to the less fortunate and what better way to celebrate a joyous day by helping and reaching out to those who are in need. Clothes, as well as cash and daily provision, are collected and distributed among the less privileged so no one misses out on the celebrations.
With that, I would like to wish all my Muslim friends as well as those around the world, a joyous and blessed Eid and may our lives be filled with the happiest laughter and the brightest smiles. Eid Mubarak!
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