5 Ways to Celebrate Eid
Eid al Fitr is one of the two religious holidays in Islam, along with Eid al Adha. The former marks the end of Ramadan, while the latter marks the end of Hajj (or pilgrimage). On this day, Muslims celebrate the end of their fasting month with family and friends by eating festive meals, giving to charity, and exchanging gifts and greetings. Here are some tips on how you can enjoy Eid al Fitr even more than usual!
1) What is Eid?
Eid, often translated as a feast, is a term used to describe several holidays observed by Muslims all over the world. Of these, Eid al-Fitr is perhaps most familiar in Western countries. Its celebration marks an end to Ramadan, a holy month of fasting that began on June 28th or 29th and lasts for 30 days. To celebrate Eid al-Fitr (pronounced eed), Muslims first pray together at a mosque. Then, families and friends gather for one large meal (called an iftar) with plenty of food, sweets, and water. They also exchange greetings cards and gifts with each other during their celebrations on Eid day. However, what you do during your holiday depends on where you live in the world.
2) When and where should you celebrate?
Muslims are free to celebrate EID in any way they want, so long as there are no sacrifices involved. However, it is better for Muslims to break their fast after praying Maghrib in one place and then gather in another with friends and family, just like what Prophet Muhammad did when he broke his fast on Eid day with his Companions. The prophet also asked them Did you fast yesterday? which indicated that fasting before breaking one’s fast is something good. Moreover, scholars have preferred visiting or dining at someone else’s house on eid al Fitr over doing so on any other day.
3) Bring your family together
Before you get too excited about buying new clothes or planning a lavish party, there are some things you should do first. Eid is a time to come together with your family and friends and enjoy each other’s company, which often means sacrificing splurging on food, gifts, and decorations in favor of spending quality time with loved ones. Plan a dinner party or arrange for an elaborate picnic at your local park; just make sure everyone has a good time before you start your shopping spree.
4) Learn something new
It’s common for Muslims to celebrate Ramadan by fasting. When they aren’t fasting, many make it a point to spend more time with their family and friends. However, what exactly do Muslims do on Eid al Fitr? What is one-way people can spend more time with friends and family on Eid? (See the previous section) The first thing that comes to mind when I think of spending time with friends and family is dinner or lunch out at a restaurant. In fact, there are plenty of restaurants offering deals during Eid al Fitr in order to attract customers. For example, Olive Garden offers $30 off catering orders of $100 or more; Chili's has buy-one-get-one entrees available; TGI Friday's has BOGO appetizers; Applebee's has half-priced appetizers; Red Lobster offers $10 off orders of $40 or more, and PF Chang's offers 50% off lunch or dinner entrees all day long!
5) Play with your kids
Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean your kids don’t have homework, extracurricular activities, or classes. Take advantage of the time off from work and school by spending time with them on Eid—you can play and be active together. Kids who feel connected with their parents are more likely to follow in their footsteps. Exercising is also an opportunity for you to get closer with your children, especially if you haven’t done much physical activity together before; spending quality time playing sports or doing exercises together fosters connection in other areas as well. Plus, doing exercise as a family has been shown to improve overall physical health and reduce obesity risk among children.