"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may aquire self-restraint . -- Qur'an 2:183

Eid ul-Fitr (often abbreviated as Eid) is celebrated on the day after the completion of a month of fasting, or Ramadan. It is one of the two Eid festivals in the Islamic year (the other being Eid ul-Adha). It's also referred to as the Little or Small Bayram, or the "Little" or "Small Feast."

Fiṭr means "to break the fast" and refers to the breaking of the fasting period of Ramadan.

In many Muslim communities, Eid ul-Fitr is marked by congregational prayers at masjids or mosques. After the prayers, worshippers greet and embrace each other in a spirit of peace, love and brotherhood.

While fasting is considered a pious act in Islam, Eid ul-Fitr is one of the times when fasting is prohibited.

Calendar Dates

Eid marks the end of Ramadan, beginning the day after Ramadan ends to celebrate the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, fellowship and unity, a time of giving and sharing.

While Eid ul-Fitr is always on the same day of the lunar Islamic calendar, the date on the solar Gregorian calendar falls approximately 11 days earlier each successive year. The date of Eid ul-Fitr also varies from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

Eid Mubarak

This is a Muslim greeting often used during the festival of Eid ul-Fitr. Printed phrasings:
Arabic: عيد مبارك
Bengali: ঈদ মোবারক
Persian/Urdu: عید مُبارک
Malayalam: ഈദ്‌ മുബാറക്‌
Somali: Ciid wanaagsan, ஈத் முபாரக்)

Eid means "Celebration" and and Mubarak means "blessed."

A Sweet Ending to Ramadan

On Eid ul-Fitr, Muslims are allowed to resume their morning habit of eating breakfast and drinking coffee and many families celebrate the occasion with a large spread. In Saudi Arabia, breakfasts are often served with small plates and bowls full of olives, cheese, honey, jam and bread.

One famous Eid dish is "Debyaza" (apricot pudding with dried dates, dried apricot, raisins and nuts), prepared days before Eid in order for it to thicken and become sweeter.

"Shakshookah" is a Saudi version of scrambled eggs mixed with vegetables, served hot with warm pita bread.

Another popular dish is "Kebdah," made with diced fresh lamb liver cooked in vegetable oil with chopped onions, diced tomatoes, minced garlic, black pepper, Maggi cube, and chopped coriander. Islam urges Muslims to slaughter lamb or sheep at Eid to donate and distribute to poor people so they can celebrate Eid with others and eat meat.

Traditional Saudi Eid breakfasts are served on a plastic sheet placed on the floor. Plates and bowls are arranged in an appetizing presentation along with coffee and tea. After breakfast, families visit neighbors and friends to wish them a happy Eid.

Goat

Goat is a popular meat at iftar meals. Buyers are particular interested in male and female kids with all their milk teeth (i.e. not older than at 12 months). Males can be whole or castrated. Overly fat kids are discriminated against. Optimum live weight is about 60 lbs, but weaned kids from 45 - 120 lbs. are accepted by some buyers.