Eid-al-Fitr in AustraliaQuick FactsEid al-Fitr, which is on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan.NameEid-al-FitrEid-al-Fitr 2010Friday, September 10, 2010Eid-al-Fitr 2011Wednesday, August 31, 2011Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen. See list of observations below Many Muslims in Australia celebrate Eid al-Fitr (also known as Id al-Fitr or Eid ul-Fitr) on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar. It marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan and the start of three-day feast.  Many Muslim children happily receive presents from family members during Eid al-Fitr. ©iStockphoto.com/DistinctiveImages What do people do?Eid al-Fitr is an important Islamic holiday for Muslim communities across Australia. Sheer khurma (a dish of dates cooked in milk) is usually eaten in the morning of Eid al-Fitr. It is a busy time for mosques throughout Australia, where worshippers flock for early morning prayers. Many Muslims dress in their finest clothes and adorn their homes with lights and other decorations. Old wrongs are forgiven and money is given to the poor. Special foods are prepared and friends or relatives are invited to share the feast. Gifts and greeting cards are exchanged and children receive presents. Eid al-Fitr is a joyous occasion but its underlying purpose is to praise God and give thanks to him, according to Islamic belief. Public lifeEid al-Fitr is not a federal public holiday in Australia. However, many Islamic businesses and organizations may alter their business hours during this event. There may be some congestion around mosques around this time of the year. BackgroundEid al-Fitr is also known as the Feast of Fast-Breaking or the Lesser Feast. It marks the end of Ramadan and the start of a three-day feast. It is one of Islam’s two major festivals, with Eid al-Adha being the other major festival. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the fasting that occurs during Ramadan. It is not possible to predict the date of Eid al-Fitr according to the Gregorian calendar accurately. This is because the month of Shawwal begins, and hence the month of Ramadan ends, after a confirmed sighting of the new moon. The new moon may be sighted earlier or later in specific locations. Hence, Muslims in different parts of the world may begin the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations on different dates. About Eid-al-Fitr in other countriesRead more about Eid-al-Fitr.Eid-al-Fitr ObservancesNote: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.
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