When is Eid 2022? Dates of Muslim celebration Eid-al-Fitr after Ramadan ends, customs, Eid Mubarak explained
Eid al-Fitr, meaning ‘Feast of Breaking the Fast’ in English, is one of the two official holidays in Islam and is enjoyed by 1.8 billion Muslims around the world.
The festival marks the end of the Islamic month, Ramadan, where Muslims dry fast during sunlight hours for 30 days.
This Eid is also known as lesser Eid or just Eid, as Eid celebrations typically last only for three days, one day less than the other official Eid – Eid al-Adha.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2022?
In the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr always falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar.
In the Gregorian calendar, this day goes forward every year by 10-11 days, as the start of any Islamic month begins on the new crescent moon when sighted by religious authorities. This makes it a moveable feast.
In 2022, Eid al-Fitr will fall on Sunday 1 May or Monday 2 May, depending on the new moon, as Ramadan typically never lasts longer than 30 days – as the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.
This Eid was originated by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, where, according to traditions, when the Prophet arrived in Medina, after migrating from Mecca, he noted the locals celebrating two specific days. These two days formed the basis of the two Eids in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated?
As this day is a religious celebration, this Eid begins with a salat (prayer). The salat, which is only two rakats (units) long, can only be performed in a congregation usually in an open field or a large hall.
After the prayers, Muslims celebrate in various ways, with rich, sweet food and family celebrations being the central themes.
With the emphasis on food, this Eid is also known as Sweet Eid or Sugar Feast.
Many people adorn themselves in their finest clothes, and many women apply henna on their hands to mark the celebration. However, across the world, Muslims celebrate Eid differently – all with a central theme of food.
In Turkey, a secular country with a majority of Muslims, holidays celebrated nationwide are known as Bayram. Eid al-Fitr is referred to as Ramadan Bayrami, meaning Bayram of Sweets/Sugar.
Children go door-to-door and wish everyone a “Happy Bayram” for which they are awarded traditional sweets such as baklava and Turkish Delight.
People in Palestine and Jordan will adorn their homes and buy new clothes and shoes for the celebrations.
In Tunisia, Eid is celebrated for three days, two of which are national holidays. Children traditionally receive money and toys.
Elaborate banquets with dishes such as xalwo and buskut are served in the Islamic regions of Somalia, and in Sudan, as preparations for Eid are completed days in advance.
The night before Eid is known as Chandraat, in Pakistan, where women adorn their hands in henna during this time. People also give to charity and enjoy a special breakfast with different types of sweets and desserts, such as kheer (rice pudding).
In New York City, public schools remain closed on Eid. In Argentina, Eid is a non-working holiday for Muslims.
How to wish someone ‘Happy Eid’
If you want to wish somebody “Happy Eid” this year, the traditional way would be to greet them with “Eid Mubarak”. Eid al-Adha and the Eid al-Fitr celebrations earlier in the year.
The Arabic word “Mubarak” translates as “blessed,” while “Eid” means feast, festival or celebration, so “Eid Mubarak” can literally mean “blessed celebration” or “blessed feast”, although it is widely interpreted as simply wishing somebody a “Happy Eid”.
In exactly the same way, Muslims will often wish their fellow observers “Ramadan Mubarak” at the start of the holy month and throughout the fasting period.
“Ramadan Kareem” is less commonly used, but translates as “Generous Ramadan” – while the phrase can be used as a greeting in a similar way to “Ramadan Mubarak”, it can also describe Ramadan when referring to it in a wider context.
There is some debate around whether using “Ramadan Kareem” is appropriate, given that the expectation of generosity can be considered against the principles of fasting and prayer central to observing the holy month.
However, others argue that the greeting can appropriately refer to the generosity of acts towards others. Khaled Boudemagh, described by Gulf News as a Dubai-based language expert, said: “Ramadan is a month of generosity, therefore wish Kareem.”
Both “Mubarak” and “Kareem” are also given names in Arabic, which carry the same meanings as bestowed in the Eid and Ramadan greetings.
