Eid’l-Fitr: A Festival of Breaking the Fast

Eid’l-Fitr means the “feast of breaking the fast” to celebrate the successful completion of Ramadan. The holiday falls on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal and is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon shortly after sunset. (Photo by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)

MANILA — As the holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, Muslims around the world begin its festivities with Eid’l-Fitr to mark an end to the solemn period of dawn-to-dusk fasting.

Eid’l-Fitr means the “feast of breaking the fast” to celebrate the successful completion of Ramadan. The holiday falls on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal and is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon shortly after sunset.

In the Philippines, this festival is known to Muslims as “Araw ng Lebaran” or “Araw ng Raya”. Eid is declared a national holiday through Republic Act No. 9177.

This important holiday celebrated by Muslims provides them with an opportunity to show gratitude to Allah for giving them the strength to observe the month-long fast.

Many people start the holiday by gathering at mosques or public places to pray the special Eid prayers.

Muslims likewise perform a mandatory act of charity called Zakat al-Fitr, wherein money is paid to the poor and needy.

The Islamic festival is also known as “Sweet Eid” for the variety of sweet dishes as staples of the celebration.

Eid’l-Fitr is a time for festivity, gratitude, charity, and prayers, so let’s not forget to extend our holiday wishes with a traditional Muslim greeting of “Eid Mubarak”, which translates to a “have a blessed holiday!”