Eid 2021: What is Eid?

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What is Eid?

Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims around the world and marks the end of the holy month known as Ramadan. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a special event where millions of Muslims abstain from food between the hours of sunrise to sunset. The date of Ramadan changes from year-to-year, depending on the sighting of the new moon. In 2021, Ramadan started on 13th April.

During Ramadan, families and friends attend prayers together, and they also donate to people who are less fortunate by making their annual payment of obligatory alms. This is known as Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam: This is where Muslims donate 2.5% of their annual income to those who are in need. 

Ramadan month is a time when Muslims reflect on life and express gratitude, given that there are millions of people around the world without basic essentials, such as shelter or food. 

Eid Al-Fitr is translated as ‘the festival of the breaking of the fast’. The festival officially begins once the religious authorities, such as Saudi Arabia, have confirmed the sighting of the new moon: marking the end of Ramadan. It is the time Muslims give thanks to Allah for the resilience and self control of leaving any bad habits behind.

How do Muslims celebrate Eid? 

Muslims may celebrate Eid in a number ways:

Prayers: The day starts in the early morning with a special prayer, known as Salatul-Eid. This would usually be a large gathering where hundreds of Muslims attend mosques or public parks to truly celebrate the spirit of Eid. 

Food: With the end of Ramdan comes a big breakfast! Muslims may also use this time to exchange gifts and show their appreciation for their loved ones!

Eid is a momentous and joyous occasion shared with friends and family, whether they are Muslim or non-Muslims. There are different ways you can show the appreciation to your Muslims friends this Eid:

• Saying “Eid Mubarak” (which translates to “Blessed festival”) is a respectful and kind gesture to your Muslim friends
• Whatever day Eid falls on, a creative way to gift your Muslim friends is by making a personalised greeting card
  
• Ask questions – let your friends explain to you what Ramadan and Eid personally means to them; that way you’ll know more about it for next year!
  
• Eid is celebrated for three days, so why not throw an Eid party on one of them?
  
• Another creative way to celebrate Eid with your Muslim friends is by decorating your skin with temporary henna tattoos!
  

Cultural tolerance is important for all ages, and it’s important to create a society where we respect, accept and appreciate backgrounds that might be different from our own. Introducing children to new cultures and religions can widen their perspective of the world and encourage them to appreciate languages, cuisines and dress that might be different to their own. It inspires curiosity and inspires them to think beyond their own experiences.

Books are a great tool for children to learn about cultural diversity! Books offer a great opportunity to teach young children about different countries and cultures to broaden their horizon and thinking.  Parents, caregivers and teachers can help the children by asking them questions about what they’ve read to gauge their understanding. 

Our book recommendations for Eid gifts in 2021: