Eid ul-Fit
Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr
means "breaking (the fast)". The holiday celebrates the conclusion of
the thirty days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The first day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month Shawwal.
Eid-ul-Fitr Salat (Namaz in Persian) is a Sunnah muak'kad
(strongly recommended, just short of obligatory) or mandoob
(preferable) – depending on which juristic opinion is followed – Islamic
prayer consisting of two raka'ah (units) which is generally offered in an open field or large hall called an Eed-gah. This salaat or prayer, can only be performed with Jama’at (i.e., in congregation) and has an additional extra six Takbirs
(raising of the hands to the ears while saying Allahu Akbar (God is
Great), three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah and three of
them just before ruku' in the second raka'ah in the Hanafi school. Muslims are commanded by God in the Qur'an to complete their fast until the last day of Ramadan and pay the Zakat al-fitr before doing the Eid prayer.
History
Before the advent of Islam in Arabia, we find mention of ‘id
festivals as yawm al-sab‘ and yawm al-sabasab as well as some others
among the idolaters of Arabia. The shari‘ah of the Israelites had ‘id
festivals as well but as is evident from the Old Testament and other
scriptures, these festivals related more to commemorating certain days
of their history. The ‘id al-fitr was originated by Prophet Muhammad and
is observed on the first of the month of Shawwal right after the end of the holy month of Ramadan in which the believers undergo a period of fasting.
It is evident from certain Ahadith that these festivals were initiated in Madinah after migration. Anas reports:
- When the Prophet arrived in Madinah, he found people celebrating two specific days in which they used to entertain themselves by playing and merriment. He asked them about the nature of these festivities at which they replied that these days were occasions of fun and recreation of the days of jahilliyah. At this, the Prophet remarked that the Almighty has fixed two days [of festivity] instead of these for you which are better than these: ‘id al-fitr and ‘id al-adha
For Muslims, both these festivals of ‘id al-fitr and ‘id al-adha are
occasions of showing gratitude to God, remembering him and are a means
of entertainment. ‘A’ishah narrates that when on an ‘id day her father Abu Bakr
stopped young girls from singing, the Prophet said: Abu Bakr! [Let them
sing]; every nation has an ‘id and [this day] is our ‘id.
General rituals
See also: Eid cuisine
Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated for two days. Common greetings during this holiday are the Arabic greeting ‘Eid Mubārak ("Blessed Eid") or ‘Eid Sa‘eed
("Happy Eid"). In addition, many countries have their own greetings
based on local language and traditions – in Turkey, for example, a
typical saying might be Bayramınız kutlu olsun or "May your Bayram
– Eid – be blessed." Muslims are also encouraged on this day to forgive
and forget any differences or past animosities that may have occurred
with others during the year.
Typically, Muslims wake up relatively early in the morning—always
before sunrise— offer Salatul Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer), and in
keeping with the Sunnah (traditions and actions of the Prophet Muhammad), clean one's teeth with a Miswaak or toothbrush, take a shower (Ghusul) before Fajr prayers, put on new clothes (or the best available), and apply perfume.
It is haraam, or forbidden, to fast on the Day of Eid.
That is why it is recommended to have a small breakfast (as a sign of
not being on a fast on that day) of sweet dish, preferably the date
fruit, before attending the special Eid prayer (salaat). It is a Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) that the Sadaqat-ul-fitr,
an obligatory charity, is paid to the poor and the needy before
performing the ‘Eid prayer by all those adult Muslims who are required
to pay Zakat. Muslims recite the following Takbir (incantation) in the low voice while going to the Eid prayer: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha ilal-lahu wal-Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa-lilla hil hamd. Another Sunnah of Muhammad Muslims are recommended to use two separate routes to and from the prayer grounds.
Eid prayer is performed in congregation in open areas like fields, community centers, etc. or at mosques. No adhan (Call to Prayer) or iqama
(call) is to be pronounced for this Eid prayer, and it consists of only
two rakaʿāt (units of prayer) with an additional six Takbirs. The Eid
prayer is followed by the khutbah (sermon) and then a supplication (dua)
asking for God's forgiveness, mercy, peace and blessings for all living
beings across the world. The khutbah also instructs Muslims as to the
performance of rituals of Eid, such as the zakat.Listening to the khutbah (sermon) of Eid is a necessary requirement (wajib) i.e. while the khutbah is being delivered; it is haraam (prohibited) to talk, walk about or offer prayer while the sermon is being delivered.
After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends and
acquaintances or hold large communal celebrations in homes, community
centers or rented halls.
Gifts on eid (called eidi in some cultures) are frequently given to
children and immediate relatives; it is also common in some cultures for
children to be given small sums of money by adult relatives or
friends(eidi).
Islamic Tradition
Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. This has
to do with the communal aspects of the fast, which expresses many of the
basic values of the Muslim community;
i.e., empathy for the poor, charity, worship, steadfastness, patience
etc. Fasting is also believed by some scholars to extol fundamental
distinctions, lauding the power of the spiritual
realm, while acknowledging the subordination of the physical realm. It
also teaches a Muslim to stay away from wordly desires and to focus
entirely on the Lord and thank him for his blessings. It is a
rejuvenation of the religion and it creates a stronger bond between the
Muslim and his Lord. After the end of Ramadan, is a big celebration of
Eid.
Africa
Further information: Islam in Africa
In Africa, Eid is celebrated by many people, especially in North Africa where Islam is practised by most people.
Tunisia
Tunisia
sees three to four days of celebration, with only 2 days as a national
holiday (1st Eid and second Eid), with preparations starting several
days earlier. Special biscuits are made to give to friends and relatives
on the day, including "Baklawa" (Baklava) and several kinds of "ka'ak".
Men will go to the mosque early in the morning, while the women will
either go with them or stay in and prepare for the celebration by
putting together new outfits and toys for their children, as well as a
big family lunch generally held at one of the parents' homes. During the
daylight hours, there may be dancing and music, but the feasting lasts
all day long, and many gifts are a large part of tradition. Also, food
is the centre of this holiday, so this is one of the hightlights of the
evening. Different members of a family visit each others. Usually,
children accompany their father and visit aunts, uncles, grand parents
and friends to congratulate them on the Eid. They will be offered drinks
and special cookies. Women will stay at home with some of the children
in order to welcome members of the family that come to visit and
congratulate for the eid.
South Africa
In Cape Town, hundreds of Muslims will gather at Green Point
in the evening of the last day of Ramadan each year for the sighting of
the moon. The gathering brings together people from all walks of life,
and everyone comes with something to share with others at the time of
breaking the fast. The Maghrib (sunset) prayer is then performed in congregation and the formal moon-sighting results are announced thereafter.
The festival of Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated by first attending the
mosque in the morning for Eid prayer. This is followed by visiting
relatives and neighbours. Children receive presents and money from elder
members of the family, relatives and neighbours. Most people wear new
clothes with bright colours, while biscuits, cakes, samosas, pies and
tarts are presented to visitors as treats. Lunch is usually served in
large family groups.
Nigeria
Nigeria
is officially a secular country populated by large numbers of Muslims
and Christians. Therefore, as Muslims celebrate the Eid festival, many
Christians also participate. Eid is popularly known as "Small Sallah" in
Nigeria and people generally greet each other with the traditional
greeting: "Barka Da Sallah," which means "Greetings on Sallah" in the Hausa language.
Muslims observe their Eid prayers at designated praying grounds before
heading home to partake in festive meals, generally prepared by the
women of the household. The Federal holiday
typically lasts for two days in Nigeria. If Eid falls on a weekend, or
is continuous with a weekend, Nigerians of every religious persuasion
will travel to their respective hometowns to visit with family and
relatives.
Saudi Arabia
Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated with great pomp in Saudi Arabia. Saudis
will decorate their homes and prepare sumptuous meals for family and
friends. The whole country engages in untainted revelry during Eid. The
innumerable Saudi Arabia festivals & events include the Eid ul-Fitr
and Eid ul-Adha festivals.
Eid festivities in Saudi Arabia may vary culturally depending on the
region, but one common thread in all celebrations is that the generosity
and hospitable traditions of the Saudi people become quite apparent
during Eid. First, it is common Saudi tradition for families to gather
at the patriarchal home after the Eid prayers. Before the special Eid
meal is served, young children will line up in front of each adult
family member who dispenses Riyals (Saudi currency) to the
children. Family members will also typically have a time where they will
pass out gift bags to the children. These bags are often beautifully
decorated and contain candies and toys.
Even many shopkeepers will show their generosity at Eid providing
free Eid gifts with each purchase. For example, during Eid, many of the
chocolate shops will give each customer who buys a selection of candies a
free crystal candy dish with their purchase.
In the spirit of Eid, many Saudis go out of their way to show their
kindness and generosity. It is not uncommon for even complete strangers
to greet one another at random, even by occupants of vehicles waiting at
stop lights. Sometimes even toys and gifts will be given to children by
complete strangers.
It is also traditional in some areas for Saudi men to go and buy
large quantities of rice and other staples and then leave them
anonymously at the doors of those who are less-fortunate. Also, im some
areas in the middle of Saudi Arabia, such as Al Qassim, its a common
tradition that during Eid's morning and after the Eid prayer people will
put large rugs on one of streets of their neighborhood and each
household will prepare a large meal where these meals will be shared by
all neighbours, its also a common practice that people will swap places
to try more than one kind of meal.
Turkey
In Turkey, nation-wide celebrated holidays are referred to as bayram, and Eid ul-Fitr is referred to as both Şeker Bayramı ("Bayram of Sweets") and Ramazan Bayramı ("Ramadan Bayram"). It is a public holiday, where schools and government offices are generally closed for the entire three-day period of the celebrations.
The celebrations of this Bayram are infused with national traditions. It is customary for people to greet one another with Bayramınız kutlu olsun ("May your Bayram be blessed") or Bayramınız mübarek olsun ("May your Bayram be blessed"). Mutlu Bayramlar ("Happy Bayram") is an alternative phrase for celebrating this Bayram. It is a time for people to attend prayer services, put on their best clothes (referred to as Bayramlık,
often purchased just for the occasion, visit all their loved ones (such
as relatives, neighbours, and friends), and pay their respects to the
deceased with organized visits to cemeteries, where large, temporary bazaars
of flowers, water (for watering the plants adorning a grave), and
prayer books are set up for the three-day occasion. The first day of the
Bayram is generally regarded as the most important, with all
members of the family waking up early, and the men going to their
neighbourhood mosques for the special Bayram prayer.
It is regarded as especially important to honour elderly citizens by
kissing their right hand and placing it on one's forehead while wishing
them Bayram greetings. It is also customary for young children to go around their neighbourhood, door to door, and wish everyone a happy Bayram, for which they are awarded candy, chocolates, traditional sweets such as baklava and Turkish Delight, or a small amount of money at every door, similar to the Halloween custom in the United States.
Municipalities
all around the country organize fund-raising events for the poor, in
addition to public shows such as concerts or more traditional forms of
entertainment such as the Karagöz and Hacivat shadow-theatre and even performances by the Mehter – a Janissary Band founded during the days of the Ottoman Empire.
Egypt
Eid ul-Fitr is a three-day feast and an official holiday in Egypt with vacations for schools, universities and government offices. Some stores and restaurants are also closed during Eid.
The Eid day starts with a small snack followed by Eid prayers in
congregation attended by men, women and children in which the Islamic
people remind Egyptians of the virtues and good deeds they should do
unto others, even strangers, during Eid and throughout the year.
Afterwards, neighbours, friends and relatives start greeting one
another. The most common greeting is "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Eid). Family
visits are considered a must on the first day of the Eid, so they have
the other two days to enjoy by going to parks, cinemas, theatres or the
beaches. Some like to go on tours or a Nile cruise, but Sharm El Sheikh
is also considered a favorite spot for spending holidays in Egypt.
Children are normally given new clothes to wear throughout the Eid.
Also, women (particularly mothers, wives, sisters and daughters) are
commonly given special gifts by their loved ones. It is customary for
children to also receive a Eid-ey-yah from their adult relatives.
This is a small sum of money that the children receive and is used to
spend on all their activities throughout the Eid. Children will wear
their new clothes and go out to amusement parks, gardens or public
courtyards based on how much their Eidyah affords. The amusement parks
can range from the huge ones on the outskirts of Cairo-Nile, Felucca Nile rides is one common feature of Eid celebration in Egyptian villages, towns and cities.
The families gatherings involve cooking and eating all kinds of
Egyptian food like Fata, but the item most associated with Eid al-Fitr
are Kahk
(singular = Kahka), which are cookies filled with nuts and covered with
powdered sugar. Egyptians either bake it at home or buy it in the
bakery. Thus, a bakery crowded in the last few days of Ramadan with Kahk
buyers is a common scene. TV in Egypt celebrates Eid too, with a
continuous marathon of movies as well as programs featuring live
interviews from all over Egypt of both public figures and everyday
citizens, sharing their Eid celebrations.
For a lot of families from working neighborhoods, the Eid celebration
also means small mobile neighborhood rides, much like a neighborhood
carnival. In a lot of neighborhood courtyards, kids also gather around a
storyteller, a puppeteer or a magician mesmerized by Egyptian folktales
or by a grownup’s sleight of hand. It is also customary for kids to
rent decorated bikes to ride around town.
Egyptians like to celebrate with others so the streets are always crowded during the days and nights of Ei Qatar
Eid ul-Fitr is particularly important to Qataris because it is a time
when the entire family gathers and celebrates and family obligations
come first. Eid breathes the spirit of community and togetherness into
people in Qatar and puts everyone, even the grumpiest of people, into an
unusually good mood.
Preparations for Eid, usually start between ten days and two weeks
prior to the end of Ramadan. It’s a particularly busy time for Qatari
women, who do most of the preparations. Tailors are overloaded with
work, as women get new abayas or traditional dresses, known as disdaashas, made for themselves, as well as traditional clothes made for their children. Many men will also go to tailors to get new thowbs (long, loose-fitting white robes) made.
The last ten days of Ramadan in Doha,
the Qatari capital, is often a traffic nightmare as everyone floods to
shops, tailors and the souks (markets) to get all their Eid preparations
done on time. In the last few days of Ramadan it is not unusual to find
police on the corners of every street trying to keep traffic under
control.
Qataris usually decide and prepare weeks in advance what they are
going to wear, what sweets they are going to buy and who they are going
to visit. Some Qataris even buy new furniture, or rearrange the
furniture in their homes just for Eid, emphasizing the specialness of
the occasion.
Salons and barbers are also packed in the week leading up to Eid.
Women will get facials, haircuts and hair-dye, while men will have their
beards trimmed and shaped. Women and girls may end up waiting hours on
end to get their hands and arms decorated with intricate henna patterns.
Afghanistan
In the predominantly Sunni Muslim culture of Afghanistan,
Eid ul-Fitr holds significant importance and is celebrated widely for
three days. The most common greeting is "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Eid).
This Eid among the Pashto-speaking community is called "Kochnai Akhtar."
In Afghanistan, the Eid ul-Fitr festival holds such special
importance that Afghans start preparing for it up to ten days prior by
cleaning up their homes. This act is known among the Persian-speaking
community as Khana Takani. Many will also go to their local bazaars to buy new clothes, sweets and other snacks such as semyan, shor nakhod, and cake wa kolcha to serve their guests during the festivities.
On the day of Eid ul-Fitr, Afghans will first offer their Eid prayers
and then gather in their homes with their families, greeting one
another by saying "Eid Mubarak" and usually adding "Eidet Mobarak Roza
wa Namazet Qabool Dakhel Hajiha wa Ghaziha", which means "Happy Eid to
you; may your fasting and prayers be accepted by God, and may you be
counted among those who will go to the Hajj-pilgrimage." Family elders
will give money and gifts to children. It is also common practice to
visit families and friends, which may be difficult to do at other times
of the year.
South Asia
In Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, the night before Eid is called Chaand Raat,
which means, "Night of the Moon." Muslims in these countries will often
visit bazaars and shopping malls with their families for Eid shopping.
Women, especially younger girls, will often apply the traditional Mehndi, or henna, on their hands and feet and wear colourful bangles.
The traditional Eid greeting is Eid Mubarak, and it is
frequently followed by a formal embrace. Gifts are frequently given —
new clothes are part of the tradition — and it is also common for
children to be given small sums of money (Eidi) by their elders. It is common for children to offer salam to parents and adult relatives.
After the Eid prayers, it is common for some families to visit
graveyards and pray for the salvation of departed family members. Also
common to visit older family member and get together to celebrate Eid
and to share the meals that only exsist on Eid.
Special celebratory dishes in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh include sivayyan, a dish of fine, toasted sweet vermicelli noodles with milk and dried fruit. In Bangladesh, the dish is called shemai( bengali: সেমাই ).Many people also avail themselves of this opportunity to distribute zakat, an Islamic obligatory alms tax of 2.5% of one's annual savings, to the needy.
In Bangladesh, Sholakia (Bengali: শোলাকিয়া) is a locality famous for its Eidgah where the largest congregation of Eid prayer of the country is held on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, the day of celebration after the fasting month of Ramadan. Around 300,000 people from all over Bangladesh join the prayer on every Eid.
In India, some popular places for Muslims to congregate to celebrate Eid at this time include the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, Aishbagh Idgah in Lucknow; in Kolkata
there is a prayer held on Red Road. Muslims turn out in the thousands,
as there is a lot of excitement surrounding the celebration of this
festival. Eid is a public holiday
and is celebrated all over India. It is common for non-Muslims to visit
their Muslim friends and neighbours on Eid to convey their good wishes.
Southeast Asia
Eid is known in Indonesia as Idul Fitri (or more informally as Lebaran) and is a national holiday. Additionally, in Indonesia Idul Fitri has a legally mandated salary bonus for all employees, known as Tunjangan Hari Raya (THR)
as enforced by Indonesia's Department of Labour, Employment and Society
("Departemen Pengawasan Dinas Tenaga Kerja dan Sosial"). The mandated
amount of this salary bonus differs by region. For example, within the Jakarta region the THR bonus must be at least Rp not less than one month's full salary paid in advance of Idul Fitri,
in addition to the employee's regular salary. Thus, Idul Fitri is also a
paid holiday. Breaching or withholding THR is a very serious labour law
infraction and punished severely, regardless of employer status or
position.
In Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, Eid is more commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Idul Fitri or Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya, which literally means 'Celebration Day'.
Idul Fitri is the biggest holiday in Indonesia and Brunei; and
one of the biggest in Malaysia and Singapore. Shopping malls and
bazaars are usually filled with people to get things for Lebaran such
as ; new clothes, shoes, sandals even food to serve days ahead of Idul Fitri,
which creates a distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country,
along with traffic mayhem. Many banks, government and private offices
are closed for the duration of the Lebaran festivities.
In Indonesia, it is common during this period for people to engage in "mudik" activity. It is an annual tradition that people in big cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya,
or elsewhere, travel to their hometowns or other cities to visit
relatives, to request forgiveness, or just to celebrate Eid with the
whole family. The government of Indonesia has prepared the
transportation infrastructures to accommodate a huge amount of
travellers by repairing damaged roads and bridges. However, the impact
is still tremendous as millions of cars and motorcycles jam the roads
and highways, causing kilometres of traffic jams each year.
Additionally, the wealthier classes often "escape" to local hotels,
or went overseas to avoid not having domestic servants, drivers or
sometimes, security personnel. Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian
hotels have been particularly successful marketing lucrative Lebaran or Idul Fitri "escape package".
One of the largest temporary human migrations globally, is the prevailing custom of the Lebaran
where workers, particularly unskilled migrants labourers such as maids
and construction labourers return to one's home town or city and ask
forgiveness from ones' parents, in-laws and elders. This is known as mudik, pulang kampung or in Malaysian balik kampung.
The night before Idul Fitri is filled with the sounds of many muezzin chanting the takbir in the mosques or musallahs. In many parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, especially in the rural areas, pelita or panjut or lampu colok
(as known by Malay-Singaporeans) (oil lamps, similar to tiki torches)
are lit up and placed outside and around homes. Special dishes like ketupat, dodol,opor, cookies, rendang, lemang (a type of glutinous rice cake cooked in bamboo) and other Indo-Malay (and in the case of Malaysia, also Nyonya) delicacies are served during this day.
The lively or alternatively very emotional devotional music blended
with Qur'anic verses associated with Ramadan and Eid – known as Kaisidah or more correctly, Qasida
– can be heard throughout the country. These are commonly performed by
famous musicians, some of whom may be international stars, and televised
nationwide.
It is common to greet people with "Selamat Idul Fitri" ( in
Indonesia) or "Salam Aidilfitri" or "Selamat Hari Raya"(in Malaysia)
which means "Happy Eid". Muslims also greet one another with "mohon maaf
lahir dan batin" in Indonesia and "maaf zahir dan batin" in Malaysia,
which means "Forgive my physical and emotional (wrongdoings)", because
Idul Fitri is not only for celebrations but a time for atonement: to ask
for forgiveness for sins which they may have committed but was cleansed
as a result of the fasting in the Muslim month of Ramadan.
It is customary for Muslim-Indonesians and Muslim-Malaysians to wear a traditional cultural clothing on Eid ul-Fitr. The Indonesian male outfit is known as baju koko: a collarless long or short-sleeve shirt with traditional embroidered designs with a "kilt" sarung of songket, ikat
or similar woven, plaid-cloth. Alternatively, men may wear either
Western-style business suits or more traditional loose-fitting trousers
with colour-matched shirts, and either a peci hat or regional cultural headwear and songkok. The Malay variant (worn in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand and parts of Indonesia (particularly in parts of Sumatera and Kalimantan) ) is known as the Baju Melayu, shirt worn with a sarong known as kain samping or songket and a headwear known as songkok.
Traditional female dress is known as kebaya kurung. It consists of, normally, a loose-fitting blouse (which may be enhanced with brocade and embroidery), a long skirt both of which may be batik, or the sarung skirt made of batik, ikat or songket and either the jilbab (hijab) or its variant the stiffened krudung. Malaysian clothing is referred to as Baju Kurung and baju kebaya. It is a common practice however for the Muslim-Malaysians in Singapore to refer to the baju kurung
in reference to the type of outfit, worn by men. It should be noted
this term is not used in Indonesia, as it is an example of humorous poor
translation between Malaysian and Indonesian dialects, as kurung means a cage, parentheses, or a sack, depending on the context.
For non-Austronesian Muslims, or even non-Muslims they may don costumes of their respective culture and tradition, or wear Islamic clothes
to show respect to their relatives' or friends' differing religious
beliefs for the occasion. This is particularly common in Indonesia,
where many families have close friends or relatives of differing faiths,
namely Catholic, some Protestant, some Hindu, Budhis and Muslim.
Once the prayer is completed, it is common for many Muslims in both
Indonesia and Malaysia to visit the graves of loved ones. During this
visit, they will clean the grave, recite Ya-Seen, a chapter (sura) from the Qur'an and also perform the tahlil ceremony. All these are done as a means to ask God to forgive both the dead and the living for their sins.
The Javanese majority of Indonesia are known for their pre-Islamic Kejawen traditions of washing the headstone using scented water from the traditional terracotta water-jug, the kendi, and sprinkling hyacinth and jasmine over the graves.
In Indonesia there is a special ritual called halal bi-halal.
During this, Muslim-Indonesians visit their elders, in the family, the
neighbourhood, or their work, and show respect to them. They will also
seek reconciliation (if needed), and preserve or restore harmonious
relations.
The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors.
Idul Fitri is a very joyous day for children as the adults give them
money. They also celebrate by lighting traditional bamboo cannon firecrackers known as meriam bambu Ramadhan, using kerosene in large hollow bamboo tubes or Chinese imported crackers. The traditional bamboo cannon, meriam bambu, and fireworks are notoriously loud and can be very dangerous to operator, bystander and even nearby buildings.
These are usually bamboo tubes 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) in diameter and
4–7 m (13–23 ft) long, filled with either: water and several hundred
grams of calcium carbide, or heated kerosene, then ignited by match.
Celebrating with firecrackers in the early morning during Ramadan is
now banned in many areas – though many rascals evade the law and disturb
the neighbourhood.
In Malaysia, children will be given token sums of money, also known as "duit raya", from their parents or elders.
In the Philippines, Eid ul-Fitr, known to the Christian majority and other non-Muslims as "Wakás ng Ramadán" ("End of Ramadan") or incorrectly as "Ramadan", has been recognised by the Filipino Government as a regular holiday by virtue of Republic Act
No. 9177, signed into law on November 13, 2002. This law was enacted in
deference to the Filipino Muslim community and to promote peace and
harmony among major religions in the Philippines. The first national
commemoration of Eid ul-Fitr was on December 6, 2002, marked by prayers
and celebrations by the Muslim community.
Australia
Despite Australia being a predominantly non-Muslim, secular country,
Muslims are able to practice their religion with great freedom. Most
large companies allow for special religious holidays allowing Muslims to
take a day off for Eid ul-Fitr. Areas where there are large (but not
necessarily majority) Muslim populations have overflowing attendances at
the mosque for the Eid ul-Fitr prayer and police frequently block off
roads and divert traffic to cater for the prayer and subsequent
festivities.
In 1987, The Australian MEFF Consortium commenced the Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair
to celebrate Eid in Sydney, held shortly after Eid ul-Fitr. The
festival has grown to now cater for tens of thousands of Muslims and
non-Muslims and has included as guests Yusuf Islam, famous Australian footballer, Hazem El Masri, the then Governor-General of Australia, Michael Jeffery and the Premier of New South Wales, Kristina Keneally. This festival has now been replicated in cities all around Australia.
Burma/Myanmar
Eid ul-Fitr lasts for only one day among Burmese Muslims, who call the day Eid Nei’ (Nei’=day) or Eid Ka Lay (Ka Lay=small) or Shai Mai Eid
(Shai Mai=a meal of sweet vermicelli served with fried cashews, coconut
shreds, raisins, and milk that is traditionally eaten by Burmese
Muslims during Eid). Burmese Muslims predominantly follow the Hanafi school of jurisprudence in Sunni Islam.
During Ramadan, in the small towns and big villages with significant
Muslim populations, Burmese Muslim youth organize singing teams called
Jago (in Urdu and Hindi), which means "wake up." Jago teams usually do
not use musical instruments apart from the occasional use of harmonica mouth organs.
These youth will walk throughout the neighborhoods before sunrise to
wake up the fellow Muslims for Suhoor (pre-dawn meal), which precludes
the day of fasting.
The roving groups of singers will take the tunes of popular Hindi
movie songs, replaced with Burmese lyrics and invocations about fasting,
the do's and don’ts of Islam and about the benefits of Salaat. These songs could also be called Qawwali,
which are popular in India and Pakistan. Sometimes these Jago groups
will also visit Muslim homes on the Eid day, where they are welcomed
with food and monetary donations for the team with Eidi or Duit Raya.
Although Eid ul-Fitr is not a public holidays in Burma,
most employers have an understanding of the festival and are usually
willing to accommodate days off for Muslim staff. Some may even take
time off during office hours to visit with Muslim staff at their homes,
usually accompanied by other non-Muslim coworkers. As there is no single
Islamic authority in Burma to make official decisions on moon-sighting,
it is sometimes difficult to reach consensus on the start and end of
Ramadan. This often results in Eid being celebrated on different days in
small towns and villages.
The Eid al-Adha
"Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is a public holiday in Burma
as this event falls annually on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah (ذو الحجة) in the lunar Islamic calendar.
Unlike Muslim countries that observe a three-day festival, Eid al-Adha
is only observed on one day in Burma. During both Eids, the traditional
greeting is merely the common Islamic greeting of Assalamualaikum, and Eid Mubarak
is only seldom heard. The greeting is followed by placing the right
hand on the forehead (as if giving a salute); there is no shaking of
hands and rarely only includes a formal embrace.
Gifts and food are frequently given to the elder relatives and even
to non-Muslim employers and government authorities. New clothes are
traditionally given to family members and coworkers, but Burmese Muslims
elders will give Eidi gifts to children. Children will receive at least
token amounts of money, even from strangers, especially if they went
around the neighborhoods in groups just to collect Eidi. It is common
for children and young people to go around giving greetings of "salaam"
to parents, elder relatives and other elders in the community. During
Eid, Burmese Muslims ask forgiveness from parents and elders and
themselves try to forgive and forget any misunderstandings that may have
occurred amongst one other.
Sometimes Burmese Muslims pray or perform Eid salah (called Eid
Namaz) at an Eidgah at in open spaces outdoors. Burmese Muslim women
typically do not attend the mosque or join with the men at an Eidgah.
As Burmese Muslims are discouraged by the religious authorities from
decorating their homes with lights, lamps or colorful bulbs, sending Eid
cards, and more recently, sending e-cards through the internet, is
fairly common. Children and adults are also urged not to celebrate the
religious festival with fireworks firecrackers.
United States of America (USA)
Most Muslims in the United States offer the Eid prayer in big-city
Islamic centers, convention halls or open parks. Muslims from different
cultures with multi-national customs get together for prayers and
celebrations. In some cities, prayers are done at multiple times to
accommodate the large number of attendees. Generally, Muslims visit each
other's homes on Eid or hold large feasts in mosques or community
halls.
During the weekend of the Eid week, many Muslims join big parties
sponsored either by a community mosque or Islamic center or by a wealthy
Muslim in the community. Children receive gifts, and all participants
enjoy sweet, spicy and other flavorful delicacies. Many Muslims also
donate money to those less fortunate. Sometimes, Muslims reserve
amusement parks, skating rinks or other activity centers for an entire
day of fun.
Canada
For Eid ul-Fitr, just as in the United States, most Canadian Muslims
will take a day off from work and go to prayers held in big-city mosques
or Islamic centres, convention halls or sports arenas. Muslims from
different cultures with multi-national customs get together for prayers
and celebrations. In the larger cities of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver,
Calgary and Ottawa, congregational prayers may be done at multiple times
to accommodate the large number of attendees. Many Muslims will visit
each other's homes on the Eid day or the days following to attend
designated "open houses" in which everyone is welcome to visit. Children
receive gifts or money, and sweets and tasty dishes are served
throughout the day. Smaller Muslim communities, particularly in the
rural areas, hold other communal gatherings in mosques or rented
community halls. Muslims also donate money or contribute to their local
food banks on this day for those who are less fortunate.
In many Canadian communities, Muslim organizations and mosques also
hold large Eid parties that are open to the entire Muslim community.
Some groups may reserve amusement parks or other activity centers for an
entire day of fun and celebration, while others may hold public Eid
parties in mosques as a means of outreach to the larger non-Muslim
society.
Students from Canadian schools usually take 2-3 days off, due to the fact that Eid is a major holiday in the Islamic culture.
United Kingdom
Although Eid ul-Fitr is not a recognised public holiday in the United Kingdom,
Muslims are obliged to attend the morning prayer. In large ethnically
Muslim areas, schools and local businesses often grant exemptions to the
Muslim community in consideration of this holiday, allowing them to
take days off.
During the morning, men of South Asian descent usually wear a thawb, jubba and sherwani, and women usually wear a salwar kameez.
They will proceed to a local mosque for the Eid prayers, after which
people greet each other. Some men may go to a local cemetery after Eid
prayers to remember the deceased and pray for them. When they return
home they will congratulate family, friends, and other Muslims and visit
relatives across the city. They may also cook traditional food and
sweets for their relatives. Bengali dishes and Pakistani Dishes such as samosas, Siweya, Rice and Handesh, Noonor Bora, and Fulab are particularly popular within those communities.
People's Republic of China
See also: Islam in China
In the People's Republic of China,
out of 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, Eid ul-Fitr is
celebrated by at least 10 ethnic groups that are predominantly Muslim.
These groups are said to total 18 million according to official
statistics, but some observers say the actual number may be much higher.
It is also a public holiday in China in certain regions, including two Province Prefecture Level regions, Ningxia and Xinjiang.
All residents in these areas, regardless of religion, are entitled to
either a one-day or three-day official holiday. Outside the
Muslim-majority regions, only Muslims are entitled to a one-day holiday.
In Xinjiang province, Eid ul-Fitr is even celebrated by Han Chinese population during which holiday supplies of mutton, lamb and beef are distributed to households as part of welfare scheme by government agencies, public and private institutions or businesses.
In Yunnan province, Muslim populations are spread throughout the region. On Eid ul-Fitr, however, some devotees may travel to Sayyid 'Ajjal's
grave after their communal prayers. There, they will conduct readings
from the Qur'an and clean the tomb, reminiscent of the historic annual
Chinese Qingming festival, in which people go their ancestors' graves,
sweep and clean the area and make food offerings.
Finally the accomplishments of the Sayyid 'Ajall will be related in
story form, concluded by a special prayer service to honor the hundreds
of thousands of Muslims killed during the Qing Dynasty, and the hundreds killed during the Cultural Revolution.
Fiji
Muslims comprise around 7% (63,000 people) of the total population of Fiji,
a small tropical island-nation north east of Australia. The Islamic
community mostly consists of people of Indian origin, who were brought
to the islands in the late 19th and early 20th centuries there are also a
few hundred indigenous Fijian Muslims (Melanesians).
The day of Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated in Fiji with Muslim men
attending the mosque for Eid prayer. (Women do not go to the mosques for
prayers in most parts of Fiji). This is followed by visiting relatives
and neighbors. Children receive presents and money from elder members of
the family, relatives and neighbors. Most Muslims will wear new clothes
on this day, and serve samai, a dish of fine, sweet vermicelli noodles mixed in warm milk. This is usually accompanied by samosas, curried chicken and beef as well as sweets and Indian snacks for guests visiting throughout the day.
The traditional Eid greeting is Eid Mubarak, and it is frequently followed by a formal embrace.
