Celebrating Eid ul-Fitr

Celebrating the end of a month of fasting, Muslims around the world are recognizing the religious holiday Eid ul-Fitr on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.

After abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset for 30 days in the preceding month of Ramadan, today more than 1.4 billion Muslims are commemorating their religious heritage.

Though there is often dispute regarding the precise date of the celebrations, a bittersweet sentiment of relief and nostalgia permeates the atmosphere in countries with large Muslim populations.

The two different methods to announce the date of the celebrations — moonsighting and  calendar calculations — leads to some mosques leading the celebratory prayers Wednesday rather than Tuesday.

Muslims start off the festive day by visiting the mosque as a family to listen to a sermon, and then pray to God asking for forgiveness and acceptance for their efforts in the tribulations the previous month might have brought.

Wearing new clothes and in high spirits, Muslims take this day as an opportunity to reconnect with friends seen perhaps only on this day each year.

Cultural methods of celebration are varied, but traditionally the day is spent with family and friends, filled with sweets and gifts for children as mutual kindness and high spirits abound.

In Arab countries, cultural foods like kaahk (a type of oriental cookie in powdered sugar) are prepared and shared among the community. Elaborate decorations are used to welcome the special day.

Countries with a large population of Muslims make Eid a national holiday, and like Christmas in America, most stores and businesses are shut down to enjoy the three-day celebration.

Regardless internal differences the rest of the year, on Eid the Muslim community can come together to recognize the beauty of unity at the end of a month’s long test of willpower.