Id al-Fitr

Id al-Fitr (Eid)

First day of Islamic month of Shawwal

Also known as the Feast of Fast-Breaking, or the Lesser Feast, Id al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan and the beginning of a three-day feast. It is the second most important Islamic holiday after Id al-Adha.
The Id prayer is performed by the whole community at an outdoor prayer ground ( musalla ) or mosque. Then people put on new clothes, children are given presents, and everyone visits relatives and friends. It is the time when everyone asks pardon for all the wrongs of the past year. Village squares have carnival rides, puppet shows, and candy vendors.
It is called Lebaran or Hari Raya by Indonesians, Thais, and Malaysians. In Turkey, where it is called the Candy Festival, or Seker Bayrami, this is the day on which children are given candy or money wrapped in handkerchiefs. In Pakistan the special treat associated with this day is saween, a spaghetti cooked in milk and sugar, and sprinkled with almonds, pistachios, and dates.
In Malaya, where it is called Hari Raya, they hold open houses. It is the new custom to have one's non-Muslim friends visit to foster more understanding between different religious groups. Muslims in turn will visit Chinese friends during Lunar New Year, Hindus during Dewali, and Christians at Christmas.
In West Africa, a Mande feast of the virgins has been added to this feast. In western Guinea, young men and women parade all night with floats of animals and boats, singing and dancing; small children sing for presents.

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 871
BkFest-1937, p. 238
BkFestHolWrld-1970, pp. 80, 113
BkHolWrld-1986, Jun 27
ConEncyIslam-1991, p. 178
DictWrldRel-1989, p. 597
EncyRel-1987, vol. 7, p. 456, vol. 13, p. 91
FestWrld: Saudi-1999, p. 12
FestWrld: Turkey-1999, p. 8
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 791
HolSymbols-2009, p. 394
MuhFest-1988, p. 63
OxYear-1999, p. 733
RelHolCal-2004, p. 148
UndIslam-2004, pp. 297, 315

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Id al-Fitr (Nigeria)

First day of the Islamic month of Shawwal

Among Nigerian Muslims Id al-Fitr—the feast concluding the month-long Ramadan fast—begins with a procession to the emir's palace. People wear new, festive clothes for the event. The emir is the chief or head of state, and as he sits on his throne, beautifully adorned horses and riders honor him with a sallah —a traditional, and dramatic, way of showing respect. One by one, each horseman gallops toward the emir at full tilt and halts only at the last possible moment, then the horseman salutes. The emir's own bodyguards are the last to honor him in this unnerving way. After the sallah is over, the feasting and merrymaking starts. Ox-taming—a special form of bullfighting—is a popular entertainment.
The Islamic religion came to Nigeria around the 11th century with Arabs who crossed the Sahara Desert to trade.
See also Sallah Festival

CONTACTS:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
3519 International Ct. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-986-8400; fax: 202-775-1385
www.nigeriaembassyusa.org

SOURCES:
FestWrld: Nigeria-1998, p. 20

Celebrated in: Nigeria