Eid ul-Fitr

It is a happy time.

People visit each other.

They give money to poor people.

They wear their best clothes.

People eat special party food.

Three Muslim children in their best clothes - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages

Islam is a religion and its people are called Muslims.  The dates of Muslim festivals and holy days are worked out by the phases of the moon.

A very important time of year is a time called Ramadan, which lasts for about 30 days. During this time, Muslims only eat and drink after dark as they cannot do so in daylight hours. The start and end of Ramadan is when there is a new moon in the sky. A new moon is when it looks like a thin part of a circle, called a crescent. This means the dates are different in each country.
A new moon-photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages

At the end of Ramadan there is a festival called Eid ul-Fitr, which is a happy celebration. Eid ul-Fitr is a time to celebrate the good things in life and give thanks for all the blessings you have. People dress in their best clothes and put lights and decorations in their homes. They visit each other’s houses. Children are given money and treats. Muslims share their good fortune by giving money to charity to help others and to give money to their church, called a mosque. It is a time to make up arguments.

Can you see the crescent moon on top of the mosque's minaret, which is the tall tower? Photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages

Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated in different ways in different countries. It is a family day that always starts with special prayers in the mosque. In some countries only the men go to these prayers but in other countries the women go too. After breakfast, families visit each other and eat special cakes together. After this, families enjoy a big celebration lunch at  a family member’s home. Each day of the festival, a celebration meal is enjoyed at the home of different parts of the family.

In Bahrain the family lunch is a dish of meat and spices called biryani followed by sweet pastries.

Sweet pastries called samousek - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages

In Egypt the celebrations last for 4 days. On the day of Eid ul-Fitr, the men go to the mosque to pray and the women prepare the special lunch. Fish is the main dish of the feast, and there are other special biscuits and foods.

Part of prayer time in the mosque - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages

In Palestine, there are special biscuits made to serve with coffee.

In Somalia, the celebrations last for 3 days. The family lunch includes rice with meat and vegetables and a thin bread called anjira. A dessert called halva is served.

In Malaysia there are 3 public holidays, but the celebrations can last for a month. Special foods include beef rending, and ketupat, which is rice wrapped and cooked in coconut leaves.

In Indonesia, the family lunch includes chicken, lamb or beef, but not fish because that is an everyday food. A special layered cake called lapis legit is part of the feast. Celebrations last for a month.

Beef rendang - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages

If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge the source in your bibliography like this:

Sydenham, S. & Thomas, R. Eid ul-Fitr [online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2010)

Updated May 2010 ©kidcyber

A Muslim girl - photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages