Eid el-Fitr is a day of celebration in the Muslim religion, punctuated with traditional rituals and moments of sharing. Here is when it will be celebrated this year.
For Muslims, Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and returning to a normal diet after a month of fasting. It is a day of celebration where families and loved ones come together to share a special meal and celebrate breaking the fast together. But Eid el-Fitr is not only a time of conviviality, it is also a day marked by important traditions, such as donations to the most deprived and collective prayer, which conclude this month of fasting and contemplation.
When is Eid al-Fitr in 2026?
This year, The Eid el-Fitr holiday should take place on Thursday March 19 or Friday March 20, 2026as indicated by the Grand Mosque of Paris. However, the date remains to be confirmed based on the lunar calendar, depending on whether the cycle lasts 29 or 30 days this month. The second Night of Doubt will be used to observe the sky to precisely determine the end of Ramadan.
What is the significance of Eid al-Fitr?
Eid el-Fitr, also called “Eid el-Seghir” for “little celebration”, marks the breaking of the fast and the end of the month of Ramadan. Unlike the previous thirty days of deprivation, the faithful are invited to eat this day. Eid el-Fitr is a day of joy and rejoicing that the faithful experience as a time conducive to sharing and communion.
What are the traditions of Eid al-Fitr?
Several traditions surround Eid el-Fitr, the main one being to go visit his family. The day then begins with breakfast. Since this is the end of a month-long fast, practitioners gather around a festive meal, gourmet and traditionally sweet. It is even customary to exchange sweet cakes and other sweets prepared especially for Eid el-Fitr. To welcome guests, the houses are also thoroughly cleaned beforehand. Finally, on this festive day, the faithful buy new clothes for the occasion. The children are not left out either, since tradition also dictates that we offer gifts or money on this day. The distribution of gifts to the youngest plays an important role.
What are the traditional cakes for Eid ul-Fitr?
The celebration of Eid el-Fitr is also nicknamed “sweet celebration”, because it gives pride of place to oriental pastries. Here are the culinary specialties that mark the end of the month of Ramadan:
The day of Eid al-Fitr begins early in the morning with a hearty breakfast, before going to the Mosque for prayer specific and collective. Men and women come together to pray and then listen to the imam’s sermon. Depending on the region of origin, Muslims also share family time at lunchtime around traditional dishes, such as couscous. They also take the opportunity to fulfill alms for breaking the fast, known as Zakat al-Fitr. In theory, Zakat must be equivalent to four times the contents of two hands put together and filled with food. After the prayer time, Muslims visit their loved ones to wish them Eid wishes.
During Eid al-Fitr, it is customary to send his wishes to loved ones and even to the greatest number, practicing or not, hoping that God accepts their fasts and prayers, or that He forgives sins and grants them access to paradise. Usually, we wish each other good health, saying “Eid Mubarak”, “Eid el-Fitr Mubarak” or “Eid Mabrouk”, that is to say a happy Eid celebration.
