Eid Mubarak to all the Muslims around the world as they celebrate the end of the 30 day dawn-to-sunset fasting also known as Ramadan.

There are two major eids in the Islamic calendar every year, Eid al-Fitr which happens earlier in the year and Eid al-Adha later. Eid al Fitr is the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan.

This year Eid al-Fitr happened on Thu. Apr 20, 2023 – Fri. Apr 21, 2023.

Muslims celebrate by waking up early and going to eid prayers which usually occur at 9am-10am, and have social gathering, festive meals,gift giving and so much more.

Zakat-al-Fitr, or the Zakat of Breaking the Fast of Ramadan, is the special obligatory alms paid by many Muslims at the end of the Ramadan fasting month, to help people in need.

I asked a fellow Muslim here at EHS about her thoughts on Eid and her cherished memories of it.

“My most cherished memory is being able to come together in prayer after the long blessed holy month of Ramadan, and coming home spending time with my family and also sharing my holiday with my non-Muslim friends/family” says Awa White, EHS class of 2024.

For Muslims Eid is one of the few holidays where they get to be around their Muslim family, they get to enjoy being together.

Personally, I often remember the anticipation leading to Eid day, from jumping up and down excited to see my cousin who came from afar, our house filled with people to the point where we have to pull out mattresses and sleeping bags, my cousins and I sleeping in a pile laughing the night away unable to sleep only to end up falling asleep 2 hours before we have to wake up, the loud alarm that wakes everyone up and then chaos: everyone scattering to use the bathroom, dads threatening to leave, kids trying to eat the foods, women trying to get their makeup done and make sure everyone is accounted for, the race to the mosque before the Imam starts prayer only to realize were 30 minutes early.