Eid al-Fitr: Home
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About This Holiday
Eid al-Fitr ("the Festival of Breaking Fast") is the festival that commemorates the end of the fasting period of Ramadan. This festival begins with a community-wide prayer service in the morning. This service is usually followed with a gathering of friends and family over a feast.
There are many nations and cultures that celebrate this holiday, which means variations in how it is celebrated. Some common themes include: rich dishes prepared for the meals, donning new clothing, exchanging gifts or giving gifts to young children, and forgiving and seeking forgiveness. There is also an act of charity involved (called "Zakat al-Fitr") so that even those less fortunate may participate in the festivities.
A common greeting around this time is "Eid Mubarak" which is Arabic for "Blessed Eid."
Because this is a holiday determined by the Islamic calendar, the official date changes annually based on lunar movements. This year, Eid al-Fitr is expected to start on April 10th.
Holiday Resources
The Best Eid Ever by
Young readers can learn about Eid, a religious holiday celebrated by Muslim families every year, as well as the Hajj pilgrimage, when Muslims travel back to Mecca for the Eid, in this picture book about Muslim culture and traditions written by Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin and illustrated by Laura Jacobsen. This Eid, Aneesa should be happy. But, her parents are thousands of miles away for the Hajj pilgrimage. To cheer her up, her Nonni gives her a gift of beautiful clothes, one outfit for each of the three days of Eid. At the prayer hall, Aneesa meets two sisters who are dressed in ill-fitting clothes for the holiday. She soon discovers that the girls are refugees - they had to leave everything behind when they left their native country to live in America. Aneesa, who can't stop thinking about what Eid must be like for them, comes up with a plan - a plan to help make it the best Eid holiday ever. School Library Journal says: "[A] beautifully composed story. . . . This is a welcome contribution, giving much-needed visibility to a celebration observed by over ten million people in North America." And Library Media Connection says: "After reading this book, children will have a greater appreciation for the Muslim culture and will have no problem realizing that love is an action word."
Call Number: BP186.45 .M63 2007ISBN: 9781590784310Publication Date: 2007-10-01
Once upon an Eid by
A joyous short story collection by and about Muslims, edited by New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed and Morris finalist S. K. Ali Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it's waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it's the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it's the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations. The full list of Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, Under My Hijab), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.
Call Number: ebookISBN: 9781419740831Publication Date: 2020-05-05
Rashad's Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr by
For Muslims, Ramadan is a time for fasting, prayer, and thinking of others. Rashad tries to be good all month. When it's time for Eid al-Fitr, he feasts and plays! Find out how people celebrate this special time of year.
Call Number: ebookISBN: 9780761350798Publication Date: 2012-01-01
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