Addis Ababa: Muslims around the world are bidding farewell to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and have started celebrating the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Ethiopian Muslims across the country are also celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Eid is typically greeted with joy and excitement and is marked with congregational prayers and festivities that usually include family visits, gatherings, outings, and new clothes. With the sighting of the new moon in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries yesterday, the first day of Eid is being celebrated today, March 30, 2025. Other countries follow their own moon sightings, and those that began fasting on March 2 will announce tomorrow night whether Eid will fall on Monday, March 31.
Eid al-Fitr, the ‘festival of breaking the fast’, is celebrated at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan by Muslims worldwide. There are about 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, approximately 25 percent of the world’s population. Indonesia has the world’s highest Muslim population, with some 240 million Muslims living in the country. Pakistan is second with about 225 million Muslims, followed by India (211 million), Bangladesh (155 million), and Nigeria (111 million).
Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by country. Muslims begin Eid celebrations by attending a prayer service shortly after dawn, followed by a short sermon. The day is spent visiting relatives and neighbors, accepting sweets, and extending Eid greetings as they move around from house to house. The most popular greeting is ‘Eid mubarak’ (Blessed Eid) or ‘Eid sa’id’ (Happy Eid). Eid greetings also vary depending on the country and language. Islam follows a lunar calendar and so Ramadan and Eid cycle through the seasons. This year, the first day of Eid al-Fitr is expected to be on or around March 30; the exact date may vary among countries and Muslim communities.