Eid is celebrated in two major forms in the Islamic calendar:
- Eid al-Fitr: This festival marks the end of Ramadan, the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting. It occurs on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar. The date changes every year because the Islamic lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar. Eid al-Fitr was first celebrated by Prophet Muhammad in AD 624. It typically lasts for one to three days depending on the region.
- Eid al-Adha: This is the Festival of Sacrifice and falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Eid al-Adha celebrations last for about four days and coincide with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.
For 2025:
- Eid al-Fitr will likely be around Sunday, April 13, 2025 (first day of Shawwal).
- Eid al-Adha will begin on the evening of Friday, June 6, 2025, and continue until June 10, 2025.
These dates depend on the sighting of the lunar crescent moon and may vary slightly by location.