Muslims in Ottawa celebrate Eid today to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Learn more about what this holiday is and what it means for Muslims in our community.
What is Eid?
In Islam, there are two religious holidays: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Today, Muslims celebrate the former. Eid al-Fitr translates to the “the festival of breaking the fast,” and it lasts for three days.
It marks the end of Ramadan and the month-long fasting that Muslims observe every year where they abstain from food, water, and things like backbiting and swearing, from sunrise to sunset.
When is Eid?
That’s a tricky question. Each year, Ramadan moves up about 10 days but the exact date depends on the sighting of a waxing crescent moon. Eid starts when the lunar cycle reaches a waning crescent. Therefore, when Muslims ask for a day off from work, they can’t give their supervisors an exact date until this moon phase is spotted.
How do people celebrate?
People celebrate by buying new clothes and baking date cookies in preparation for Eid. On the day, many Muslims start their morning with a congregational prayer at the mosque. People then visit family and friends and eat lots of sweets.
Did you celebrate Eid? Tell us in the comments or tweet us @CapitalCurrent or via Facebook or Instagram.
