{"id":6701,"date":"2022-04-28T09:35:59","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T09:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tilda.com\/?p=10556"},"modified":"2022-07-29T09:36:36","modified_gmt":"2022-07-29T09:36:36","slug":"a-guide-to-eid-al-fitr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tilda.com\/en-us\/blog\/culture-guide\/a-guide-to-eid-al-fitr\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Eid al-Fitr"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As Islam\u2019s month-long, dawn-to-sunset fasting festival Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims all around the world turn their thoughts to the first of the year\u2019s religious holidays, Eid al-Fitr. As the \u201cFeast of Breaking the Fast\u201d, Eid combines communal prayer, gifts, charitable donations and family gatherings with plentiful food enjoyed in daylight hours for the first time in 29 or 30 days.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The role of Ramadan<\/b><\/h3>\n

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, but its date is not set in stone. It\u2019s actually dependent on when the waxing crescent moon is officially sighted by an authorised religious committee. The festival can even be delayed by a day if the sky is too bright to see the moon or if it is obscured by clouds. This means that Eid can fall on different days depending on where you are in the world, although some people prefer to mark the date the moon appears over Islam\u2019s holiest city, Mecca.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the fasting of Ramadan, Muslims have a daily pre-dawn meal called the <\/span>suhoor also known as sehri\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>and break the day\u2019s fast, or <\/span>sawm<\/span><\/i>, at sunset with the <\/span>iftar<\/span><\/i>. <\/span>Suhoor <\/span><\/i>\u00a0features simple foods, rich in protein and fibre to sustain energy\u00a0 throughout the day. The <\/span>Iftar<\/span><\/i> meal is richer, more colourful, with dishes from every food group and plenty of hydrating drinks. Whilst fasting, Muslims devote their time to prayer and compulsory acts of charity, or <\/span>zakat<\/span><\/i>, while abstaining from food and drink, intimacy, sinful speech and behaviour. The act of fasting is said to instil compassion for the famished and teaches Muslims self-discipline and control.<\/span><\/p>\n

So it\u2019s no surprise Eid has such a focus on food as a reward for the devotion and self control people have shown through Ramadan. In fact,\u00a0 the festival is often dubbed \u201cSweet Eid\u201d or the \u201cSugar Feast\u201d for the abundance of treats and the Quran actually forbids any further fasting on this day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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The origins of Eid al-Fitr<\/b><\/h3>\n

Eid al-Fitr is believed to have been originated by Islam\u2019s founder, the prophet Muhammad, in around 622CE. According to tradition, he was inspired to create the two festivals of Eid (see <\/span>Eid al-Adha<\/span>) after seeing the people of Medina celebrate two specific days on his journey from Mecca. He declared these days gifts from the supreme god, Allah, and they\u2019ve been marked with feasts and festivities ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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What happens at Eid al-Fitr?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The festival begins with a communal prayer, called <\/span>salat<\/span><\/i>, at daybreak, often in an open field or a large hall. People gather, freshly washed and wearing new clothing, ready to embrace <\/span>Shawwal, <\/span><\/i>the first day of the tenth month of the year. Prayers are led by the imam, asking Allah for peace and blessings around the world. Even strangers greet each other with familiar embraces and wishes of \u201cEid Mubarak\u201d, or have a blessed Eid. Although Eid al-Fitr is officially a one-day festival, given the fact it\u2019s marked globally by two million Muslims, festivities can last for up to three days, filled with official receptions and family visits, the exchange of gifts and visits to the graves of\u00a0 loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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What is eaten during Eid al-Fitr?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The celebration of breaking a fast is unsurprisingly centred around food. A communal meal is the main event, with a menu that can vary according to where you are in the world, but tends to be very sweet and indulgent. In Turkey, baklava and Turkish delight (<\/span>lokum<\/span><\/i>) are often on the menu, while Saudi Arabian and Iranian spreads offer date-stuffed pastries and rose-flavoured <\/span>Kleichas<\/span><\/i> biscuits, and shortbread cookies called <\/span>Maamoul<\/span><\/i> are served in Syria and Lebanon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yemeni feasts feature the traditional <\/span>sabayah<\/span><\/i> honey cake, topped with Nigella seeds, while <\/span>sheer kurma<\/span><\/i>, a sweet, milky pudding with vermicelli noodles, is a staple in India. In Bosnia, they serve up <\/span>Tufahija<\/span><\/i>, a poached apple stuffed with walnuts, smothered in sugar and topped with syrup and cream. hile Indonesia\u2019s <\/span>Lapis legit<\/span><\/i> is a take on the extravagant Dutch layer cake, filled with rich spices like <\/span>cardamom<\/span> and<\/span> cloves<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Something for the savoury palate<\/b><\/h3>\n

Many savoury dishes also have a place on the Eid table. Russian manti are dumplings stuffed with seasoned meat, while in China, they serve up fried patties called You Xiang. Slow-cooked stew <\/span>tagine<\/span> is a popular choice in Morocco and Algeria, with plums and apricots adding sweetness to the steamed meat and vegetables. The <\/span>Doro wat<\/span><\/i> is Ethiopia\u2019s take on a communal stew or curry, while the Afghan <\/span>Bolani<\/span><\/i> stuffs bread with vegetables, potatoes, lentils or pumpkin, served with yoghurt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zarda rice<\/span> is a dish enjoyed at Eid around the world. It\u2019s made with long grain Basmati, coloured bright yellow, and takes on a sweet and aromatically spicy flavour, with dry fruits and nuts. It\u2019s particularly popular in Pakistan, North India and Bangladesh and often the star of a wedding or festival banquet.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Food also features in the gifting and charitable traditions of Eid. Muslims will give money to charity ahead of Ramadan so the less fortunate can buy presents and clothes and stock up their wardrobes ahead of Eid, and sweet treats are given out to children and the disadvantaged. During Eid, Muslims demonstrate their gratitude for everything they have, handing out their own food and volunteering in soup kitchens to ensure everyone is adequately nourished \u2013 enlightened by their reflections through Ramadan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wishing a prosperous Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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More<\/span> Culture<\/span> Guides<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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30 March 2022<\/p>\n

Celebrating the month of Ramadan<\/p>\n

Welcome in the joy of the month of Ramadan, a time for family, fasting and feasts.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/a> <\/div>\n

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09 March 2022<\/p>\n

Delicious dishes we love for Holi<\/p>\n

Celebrate spring, love and new life during the vibrant festival of Holi.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/a> <\/div>\n

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17 March 2022<\/p>\n

Time to feast for the festival of Nowruz<\/p>\n

Honour friends and family with a fantastic feast for Nowruz, the Persian new year festival.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A tour of the culinary and customary traditions of Islam\u2019s post-Ramadan celebration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[277],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture-guide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA Guide to Eid al-Fitr | Tilda Rice USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A tour of the culinary and customary traditions of Islam\u2019s post-Ramadan celebration.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tilda.com\/en-us\/blog\/culture-guide\/a-guide-to-eid-al-fitr\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" 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