Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr (Translation: festival of breaking of the fast), also known as the Feast of Fast-Breaking, Sugar Feast, Bayram, the Sweet Festival, Hari Raya Puasa, the Lesser Eid, or the Lesser Feast, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal. It marks the end of the holy month-long fast of Ramadan and the start of a feast that lasts two or three days.
Muslims are not permitted to fast on Eid al-Fitr. The festivity begins after the conclusion of 29 to 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting, during the entire month of Ramadan.
It is one of Islam’s two major festivals, with Eid al-Adha being the other major festival. Both the festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha were first presented by Muhammad, who proclaimed that the Almighty had fixed the two days of festivity to show gratitude to God and celebrate him.
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with gatherings of family and freinds, traditional meals (especially sweets), exchanging gifts and cards, using perfume, wearing the finest clothing, and decorating homes with lights and other ornaments.
The underlying purpose is to praise God and give thanks to him. People forgive those who have wronged them and give money to the poor.
The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month is based on observations of the new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of Eid al-Fitr varies around the world. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset.
The date of Eid al-Fitr in the Gregorian calendar falls approximately 11 days earlier each successive year, since the Islamic calendar is lunar and the Gregorian calendar is solar.