EID AL-FITR will be celebrated by Muslims all across the world to mark the end of Ramadan.
Bringing an end to their month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting, families will get together to celebrate by sharing food.
What is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr - also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast - is a religious Muslim holiday that coincides with the end of Ramadan.
It is celebrated largely due to bringing an end to fasting for Ramadan, which is observed during daylight hours for a month.
Eid is also the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, but it changes every year.
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Eid al-Fitr is celebrated the day after the crescent moon during Ramadan month - as it means that the new moon will be present in the sky that evening.
The day itself has a long history, originating from the Islamic prophet Muhammad, with some traditions believing they were initiated in Medina after his migration to Mecca, which dates back to 622 AD.
Muslims celebrate the day with a specific salat - or Islamic prayer - which has two rakats (units).
When is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr falls on April 22, 2023, and marks the end of Ramadan which is a month-long holiday where Muslims fast from sun up to sundown.
Muslims must look for the new moon on the 29th day which, is Thursday, April 20, in 2023, for those who started Ramadan on March 23.
Astronomical calculations say the crescent won't be visible due to its position in the sky and that therefore Ramadan will last 30 days, ending on Friday, April 21.
The special evening before the first day of Eid is known as Chaand Raat, which is a Hindi-Urdu term meaning Night of the Moon.
Chaand Raat is expected to be on the evening of Friday, April 21.
Eid al-Fitr begins a three-day festival that starts with prayer and a short sermon.
Families will then visit their neighbours to congratulate each other and exchange biscuits, bread, cakes, and puddings.
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In Muslim-majority cities, it is customary to hold festivals and put up lights and decorations to mark the end of Ramadan.
What food is eaten on Eid al-Fitr?
Food is an important staple of Eid al-Fitr celebrations and tends to include sweet foods, with Eid al-Fitr also called sweet Eid.
There is a wide range of foods eaten on the holiday but it is largely dependent on where it is celebrated.
However, some of the favourites include:
- Boeber - A sweet milk drink made by cooking vermicelli with dates, originating in South Africa.
- Ghraybeh - These are Middle Eastern shortbread cookies, which contain pistachio on the top.
- Sohan Asali - This is an Iranian pastry or sweet, made with honey, sugar, saffron, almond, or other nuts.
- Ma'amoul - This is another cookie filled with dates.
- Tajine - This Maghrebi dish consists of a slow-cooked stew with vegetables and sauces mixed with meats like beef and chicken.
- Cambaabur - This is a Somali bread that is topped with sugar and is served with yogurt on top.
