Learning Activities for the Islamic Festival of Eid-al-Fitr

Eid-al-Fitr is the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.  The holiday is often called by the abbreviated name of "Eid" or "Id" (pronounced "eed") and is celebrated when Ramadan ends.  Eid is celebrated in various ways in different parts of the world, and celebrations usually include special foods, prayers, new clothes, and gifts to those who are poor or in need.

"Eid" means "celebration" and Eid-al-Fitr means "Celebration of the Break or End of Fasting".  The Islamic calendar follows the moon, and thus does not correspond exactly to the Gregorian or Christian Calendar commonly used in the West.  Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, and the date of Eid changes each year.  Islam has two major holidays, Eid al-Fitr  and Eid al-Adha.  Eid al-Adha is the Festival of the Sacrifice.

Video Clip

My Favourite Day -- Eid al Fitr

This animated slide show from the British Council tells about Eid al Fitr.  A young Egyptian girl explains how she celebrates the holiday.

Discussion Questions:

1. Compare traditions and religious celebrations among the world's religions.  What religious festivals do you celebrate with your family?  (e.g. Christmas, Easter, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, Divali, Wesak)
2. How do you prepare to visit a house of worship?  (e.g. church, temple, synagogue)  Is there anything special you wear or any way in which your behavior is different than at other times?
3. Have you ever fasted?  Why might people do that?
4. Why do you think that people think of those who are less fortunate during a religious holiday?
5. How are religious celebrations across faiths the same? different?

Vocabulary

• Muslim
• Islam
• Mosque
• Ramadan
• Eid-ul-Fitr
• fasting

Activities

Happy Eid Song from Early Learning HQ

This song is sung to the tune of Frère Jacques. The words are:

Eid Mubarak, Eid Mubarak,

happy Eid, happy Eid,

Eid’s a time for sharing, Eid’s a time for sharing,

happy Eid, happy Eid.
 

Crafts

Potato Print Cards

Try making these simple cards with a crescent moon shape.  Texture can be added to the paint to make it more interesting for children who are totally blind. 

Cooking -- Prepare special foods for Eid, such as some of the following (click on the names of the foods to see the recipes).

Gulab Jamun

Kheer -- sweet rice pudding

Shahi Tukra -- rich bread pudding

Braille Activities

Arabic Braille Code

Arabic Braille Translation Software from Duxbury

Books

The Best Eid Ever
by Asma Mobin-Uddin

Aneesa's grandmother surprises her with three new outfits and prepares her favorite foods for the Eid feast at the end of Ramadan. But when Aneesa meets two sisters at the prayer hall who are war refugees, she and her grandmother know the best thing to do. For grades K-3. 2007.  Digital Talking Book available from Amazon.

Celebrating Ramadan
by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

Introduces Islamic beliefs and practices. Follows fourth-grader Ibraheem and his Muslim family in New Jersey through Ramadan, the month of praying and fasting that ends with the feast of Eid al-Fitr. For grades 3-6.   2001. Sound recording from Amazon.

Ramadan
by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi

Hakeem, a young Muslim boy, relates the story of Ramadan, which is celebrated by all Muslims during the ninth month of their lunar year. He describes the meaning and importance of the holiday, and relates how his family celebrates it by observing the rituals of feasting, fasting, and praying. Print/Braille. For grades K-3.   1996.  Available through NLS.

Additional Resources