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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, its traditions, and how to join the festivities!
Eid al-Fitr is an important holiday for the Muslim community in Canada.
To understand Eid, we examine what the word means. “Eid”, by itself, means “festival” in Arabic. That is why Eid by itself is not a holiday. There are two holidays that people celebrate, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
The holiday after Ramadan is known as Eid al-Fitr or the “Festival of Breaking Fast”. Another name for it is Lesser Eid because it generally has smaller celebrations than “Greater Eid”. Most people refer to Greater Eid as Eid al-Adha, the biggest Muslim holiday, roughly two months after Eid al-Fitr.
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.
Both Eids last three days, but the first day 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 when people invite friends and family to share the feast.
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. However, the exact date is subject to the sighting of the moon of Shawwal. In Canada, Eid al-Fitr celebrations start on the evening of March 30, 2025.
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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Due to Canada’s cooler climate, most Eid parties take place indoors. This doesn’t stop the celebrations from being just as grand. Eid parties mark the end of Ramadan with marvelous decorations and brilliant light displays. Not to mention all the traditional dishes such as biryani, baklava, and other delicious treats! Eid would not be the same without its over-the-top food preparations. Remember, your guests did fast for 30 days.
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.
During Eid al-Fitr, many Muslims organize events and activities that benefit the community, often with the help of volunteers. Many charitable organizations rely on volunteers to achieve their objectives. In addition to being an important part of Eid, volunteering benefits newcomers who want to strengthen ties to the local community.
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.
With Ramadan drawing to a close and the start of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Eid Mubarak wishes to all!