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Eid-ul-Fitr or simply Eid is probably the biggest and most joyful festival that Muslims from all over the world celebrate every year at the start of the 10th Islamic month i.e., Shawal.
The founder of Geohoney and the CEO of B A Barry Group, Mr. Basem Barry says
“The day of Eid holds special significance for Muslims. It is the time to show gratitude to Allah, give away to the poor and show your love and appreciation to your dear ones.”
Different cultures and countries around the world have their own way to celebrate this beautiful event. This blog lists some of these to give you a general idea so keep on reading till the end.
Common Eid ul Fitr Traditions
Eid Celebrations in Different Cultures Around the World
UAE
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
India
Turkiye
Indonesia
Malaysia
Egypt
New Zealand
Muslim Minority Countries
Eid marks the end of Ramadan which is a whole month of fasting from the break of dawn till sunset every single day.
At the end of the 29th of Ramadan, Muslims from all over the world start looking for the new crescent moon. Once spotted, the Eid is declared the next day. Otherwise, one more fast is observed as per the sunnah (the way of the prophet).
No matter which part of the world you live in, there are some traditions that every culture has in common when it comes to Eid.
Muslims from all over the world start this day with Ghusl or bathing and cleansing. They wear their finest new clothes and head to the local mosque to say their Eid prayers.
Before saying their prayers Muslims pay their Zakat -ul-Fitr to make sure even the financially weak are able to celebrate this event. After the prayers, Muslims embrace each other and say “Eid Mubarak”.
They also invite others or visit their relatives for Eid feasts where traditional meals are prepared to celebrate this day.
Apart from the common practices mentioned above, there are some very specific customs related to Eid in different parts of the world. This next section throws some light on these so stay with us till the end.
The preparation for Eid in the UAE begins several days before the event. People decorate their homes, buy new clothes, buy gifts for their loved ones and prepare traditional sweets and other dishes.
You also observe carnivals and cultural shows in some parts of the region where you can have endless fun with your family. Emiratis also gather at the home of their eldest family member for the Eid feasts.
People also give extra attention to donating food, money and clothes to the unprivileged to ensure they are not left behind during this time.
The Eid day in Saudi Arabia is marked by extravagant feasts and visits to your close family. The exchange of gifts is another prominent tradition in the region. Saudis also enjoy this day with traditional sports like camel races or falconry.
Participating in traditional dances and cultural shows is another way the country celebrates this day.
Pakistan is another majority Muslim country that observes Eid ul-Fitr with great excitement. The night before the Eid i.e., Chand Raat is when you really start to see the excitement of the Eid when people flock towards local markets.
Wearing new clothes, having your hands adorned with henna (for women only), visiting your relatives and giving Eidi to the young are just a few ways this country celebrates this day.
Preparing traditional dishes like kheer, biryani, qorma, sheer khurma, etc. is another major custom.
Though not a Muslim country, India still has a huge population that belongs to this faith. Muslims from all over the country gather in Mosques the first thing in the morning to say their Eid prayers.
Afterwards they embrace each other and head to their homes for feasts. They also visit local parks, Malls and other entertainment spots to have a fun day with their families.
Indians celebrate this day by cooking their special cuisines and sharing these with their loved ones. People from this country also exchange Eid gifts and give money (Eidi) to kids to make this day extra special for these people.
Turks refer to Eid as Şeker Bayramı which translates to “Sugar Feast”. Making sweet treats is an integral part of Eid celebrations in Turkiye. Greeting elders by kissing their right hand and touching it to their foreheads, preparing halva and baklava and visiting cemeteries to pay respect to their long-gone family members is how this nation celebrates Eid.
Children often go door to door greeting elders who then give them sweets or money as gifts. You also see carnivals, street performers and other entertainers at various spots where you can go and have so much fun on this beautiful day.
Indonesians refer to this Eid as Hari Raya Idul Fitri or Lebaran. They celebrate this event by returning to their hometowns. This practice is referred to as Mudik and the government offers special free transportation facilities to make this happen.
People carry torches through the streets, cook Lapis Lagit and bamboo cooked rice and give money-filled envelopes to the young. Everyone is seen wearing special Indonesian cultural outfits and asking family and friends for forgiveness on this auspicious day. The latter practice is also referred to as Halal Bihalal.
Malaysians celebrate this day by decorating their homes with traditional Pelita (oil lamps), preparing Ketupat, rice dumplings and Rendang and opening their homes up to all irrespective of their status for the Eid feasts.
Elders give Duit Raya i.e., small monetary gifts to kids and families and also go out to local parks and other entertainment destinations to have a fun day together. The Eid day in Malaysia is all about sharing, charity and love which is reflected in their every tradition of this day.
The Eid day in Egypt entails family gathering and luxurious feasts that feature traditional delights like Kunafa and Fatta. Egyptians buy new clothes and gifts for their dear ones, greet their elders after Eid prayers and visit local attractions to make this day even more enjoyable.
The country is soaked in traditions during the Eid. Egyptians not only celebrate this Eid with unbridled excitement but also ensure less privileged people are also able to enjoy the day with their charity and generosity.
In New Zealand, Muslims say their Eid prayers in large outdoor locations, gather for feasts and participate in Eid festivals in cities like Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
These festivals like the one in Eden Park feature cultural stalls, cuisines and countless entertainment options. People from all backgrounds gather in these locations to experience the true Eid spirit by spending quality time with their dear ones.
Muslim in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and other parts of Europe, North and South America and Australia also celebrate this day to the fullest.
After saying their prayers in local mosques people meet up with their families or other people from the Muslim community. Eid is not a public holiday in these regions. However many Muslims choose to take the day off and many businesses facilitate this to show solidarity.
Muslims visit their loved ones and bring traditional meals or other gifts. Some Islamic centers host special events or fairs to show the true Islamic spirit. This allows everyone to take part in Eid celebrations no matter whether they live with families or alone in these Muslim minority countries.
Muslims from all over the world celebrate Eid with great fervor and excitement. Every region of the world has unique customs when it comes to Eid. They cook different meals, wear traditional attire and take part in other cultural activities during the Eid days.
However, in all of these cultures, a few things are common. Apart from performing some basic common religious rituals, Muslims from all these regions use this day to reconnect with their loved ones, give away to the poor and show a spirit of harmony.
For every Muslim, Eid is the time for celebration, joy and forgiveness and this is what is evident in every Eid celebration practice in different cultures around the world.
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