Eid al-Fitr is a three-day festival bursting with colour and cheer to mark the end of Ramadan. Commonly referred to as Eid, it marks the end of the holy month of fasting for Muslims worldwide. In Canada, one of the most multicultural countries in the world, Eid blends Muslim traditions with local flair. Discover how Canadian Muslims celebrate the joys of Eid and its traditions and how you can join the festivities.
What is Eid?
To understand Eid, we must first examine what the word means. “Eid”, by itself, means “festival”, in Arabic. That is why Eid by itself is not a holiday. In fact, there are two holidays that people celebrate.
The holiday after Ramadan is known as Eid al-Fitr or the “Festival of Breaking Fast”. Another name for Eid al-Fitr is Lesser Eid because it generally has smaller celebrations than “Greater Eid”. Most people refer to Greater Eid as Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha is the biggest Muslim holiday roughly two months after Eid al-Fitr.
The Festival of Breaking Fast
The end of Ramadan gives way to Eid al-Fitr. During the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Once Ramadan is over, Muslims celebrate with a feast on the day of Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Breaking Fast.
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Both Eids last three days but the first day always has the biggest celebrations. In Canada, most families don’t celebrate for three days and only celebrate on the first day. Eid al-Fitr is a family holiday. That is why Eid usually involves inviting friends and family over for a feast.
When is Eid al-Fitr in Canada?
The date changes as Eid and other Muslim holidays follow the Islamic Lunar Calendar (also known as the Hijri Calendar). The Islamic Calendar looks at the moon to determine what day it is. Because of this, Eid is on a different day of the Gregorian Calendar, each year. Looking at the Hijri Calendar, Eid al-Fitr begins on the 1st day of Shawwal, the tenth Islamic month. The exact date is subject to the sighting of the moon of Shawwal. In Canada, Eid al-Fitr celebrations start on the evening of April 9th, 2024.
The holiday is not a national public holiday in Canada. However, many Islamic businesses and organizations alter their hours during Eid al-Fitr.
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Celebrating Eid Traditions in Canada
As a country, Canada is proud of its cultural mosaic of ethnic groups, languages, and cultures that coexist. So, even though Eid is a Muslim holiday, people from all backgrounds and ethnicities can join the celebrations.
Distinctly Canadian Eid al-Fitr Traditions
anadian Muslims have developed a unique Eid culture that can be seen nowhere else. Traditional Eid al-Fitr in most countries involves massive street parties, inviting close relatives for dinner, and attending morning Eid prayers in large, open-air gatherings. However, Eid celebrations are slightly different in Canada but still capture all that Eid stands for.
Grand Eid Festivals
Eid allows Canadians to see what other cultures and traditions look like. It brings us closer together and allows us to appreciate the unique aspects of cultures we otherwise would not experience. Eid festivals and gatherings offer an exciting cultural experience, culinary delights, and prayer services.
Check out some of the Eid festivals that the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) sponsors in cities across Canada:
Indoor Eid Celebrations
Due to Canada’s cooler climate, most Eid parties in Canada take place indoors. This doesn’t stop them from being just as grand. Eid parties consist of marvelous decorations and brilliant light displays. Not to mention all the delicious food and traditional dishes such as biryani and baklava. Eid would not be the same without its over-the-top food preparations. Remember, your guests did finish 30 days of fasting.
Community Involvement
People who celebrate Eid may not have close relatives who live in Canada. So, it is a common practice to invite friends and neighbours to Eid parties instead. This welcoming spirit fosters a strong sense of community and togetherness.
Eid in Canada still follows many original Eid traditions. One such tradition is Zakat al-Fitr, or “Charity of Breaking the Fast”, in Arabic. Zakat al-Fitr requires financially able Muslims to give charity to someone in need at the end of Ramadan. “Zakat”, or charity, is obligatory for every Muslim before the morning Eid prayers that signal the start of Eid.
Another Eid tradition found across the world is Eidi. Eidi, also known as Salami, is a type of gift that is given only on Eid. According to tradition, older relatives or family friends give Eidi to children at the beginning of Eid. While Eidi can be anything, it is mostly given as paper money, so children can spend it wherever they like.
My name is Zain Usmani and I am a freelance content writer who currently resides in Mississauga, Ontario. I immigrated from Pakistan to Canada 5 years ago and have lived in many cities ever since. I have lived in Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Regina SK, London ON, and Mississauga ON, while visiting over 40 Canadian cities and towns. I have a great passion for writing and I love helping people through it.
