Celebrating Eid al-Fitr

As Ramadan ends, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Because these religious events are based on the sighting of the crescent moon, their dates change from year to year. The crescent moon usually appears one night after the new moon, which is when the moon is completely blacked out. Because the crescent moon can be sighted on different nights around the globe, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are celebrated on different days in various countries.

Once the crescent moon appears, Ramadan begins one night later. Ramadan is a month of fasting that lasts from dawn until sunset. The next crescent moon that appears after Ramadan ends signals Eid al-Fitr will begin.

In Arabic, Eid al-Fitr means “Feast of breaking the fast,” and it means the end to the daily fasting. Families and communities come together to feast and celebrate. This three-day holiday of Eid al-Fitr is sometimes called “Sweet Eid” because of all the treats to eat.

To read more about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, here’s a book list:

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices

By S. K. Ali, Aisha Saeed, Sara Alfageeh

Eid Songs

By Fawzia Gilani

Eid Al-Fitr (Festivals Around the World)

By Grace Jones

Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift

By Siman Nuurali (Author), Anjan Sarkar (Illustrator)

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr with Praying, Fasting, and Charity

by Deborah Heiligman

Husna and the Eid Party

By Fawzia Gilani-Williams

Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story

By Hena Khan, Julie Paschkis (Illustrator)

A Party in Ramadan

By Asma Mobin-Uddin (Author), Laura Jacobsen (Illustrator)

The White Nights of Ramadan

By Maha Addasi (Author), Ned Gannon (Illustrator)

Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle

By Reza Jalali

Ramadan

By Susan Douglass (Author), Jeni Reeves (Illustrator)

The Story of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Ramadan Classics: 30 Stories for 30 Nights

By Humera Malik

Ramadan

By Betsy Richardson

What date does Eid el-Fitr fall on for you this year? What will you do to celebrate? We hope you’ll also share your favorite books about Eid el-Fitr and Ramadan.

Laurie J. Edwards

Laurie J. Edwards planned to run away when she was nine. She didn’t get far before she realized she’d miss her pet parakeet, so she slept on the back patio. That started her on a life of travel that has led to many interesting adventures, including stepping on a lizard in Africa, climbing a Korean mountain in flip-flops, strolling the streets of Venice in a cat costume, and eating deep-fried water beetles (yum!) in China. You can find out more about her and her books at her website.