Eid-al-Fitr in United States

Quick Facts Eid al-Fitr, which is on the first day of the Islamic
month of Shawwal, marksthe end of the month-long fast of Ramadan.
Local names
Name Language
Eid-al-Fitr English
Eid-al-Fitr Spanish
Eid-al-Fitr 2012 Sunday, August 19, 2012
Eid-al-Fitr 2013 Thursday, August 8, 2013
Note: Regional customs ormoon sightings may cause a variation of the
date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the
date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the
days begin at sunset, so there may beone-day error depending on when
the New Moon isfirst seen.
List of dates for other years
Many Muslims in the United States celebrate Eid al-Fitr (also known as
Id al-Fitr or Eid ul-Fitr) on the first day of Shawwal in theIslamic
calendar. It marks the end of the month-longfast of Ramadan and the
start of a feast that lasts up to three days in some countries.
Many Muslims dress in fine clothing and children may receive gifts on
Eid al-Fitr. ©iStockphoto.com/DistinctiveImages
What do people do?
Eid al-Fitr is an important Islamic holiday that involves many Muslims
waking up early and praying either at an outdoor prayer ground or a
mosque. Many Muslims dress in their finest clothesand adorn their
homes with lights and other decorations. Old wrongs are forgiven and
money is given to the poor. Special foods are prepared and friends or
relatives are invited to share the feast. Gifts and greeting cards are
exchanged and children receive presents. Eid al-Fitr is a joyous
occasion but its underlyingpurpose is to praise God and give thanks to
him, according to Islamic belief.
Some Muslim groups in theUnited States campaign forschools in some
parts of the country to allocate Eid al-Fitr as a day off without
being penalized on Eid al-Fitr. For example, the Coalition for Muslim
SchoolHolidays, which is a group of more than 80 religious and ethnic
organizations, have been lobbying to have the two Eid al-Fitr and Eid
al-Adha designatedas days off in New York City schools.
Public life
Eid al-Fitr is not a federal public holiday in the United States.
However, many Islamic businesses and organizations may alter their
business hours during this event. There may be some congestion around
mosques around this time of the year.
Background
Eid al-Fitr is also known as the Feast of Fast-Breaking or the Lesser
Feast. It marks the end of Ramadanand the start of a feast that lasts
up to three days in some countries, such as Jordan and the United Arab
Emirates. It is one of Islam's two major festivals,with Eid al-Adha
being the other major festival. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the
fasting that occurs during Ramadan.
It is not possible to predictthe date of Eid al-Fitr according to the
Gregoriancalendar accurately. This is because the month of Shawwal
begins, and hence the month of Ramadan ends, after a confirmed
sighting of the new moon. The new moonmay be sighted earlier or later
in specific locations. Hence, Muslims in differentcommunities, for
example on the east and west coasts of the USA and Canada, may begin
the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations on different dates.
About Eid-al-Fitr in other countries Read more about Eid-al-Fitr .
Eid-al-Fitr Observances Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may
causea variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at
sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The
Islamiccalendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be
one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.