When does Ramadan end? Solar eclipse might postpone start of Eid al-Fitr celebration

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Sweets or Festival of Breaking the Fast, is celebrated to mark the end of the month of fasting known as Ramadan. It is a time of renewal after the month of spiritual cleansing, self-restraint and contemplation and a joyous time for Muslims to spend with friends and family.

Thanks to a solar eclipse happening at the same time, it also might get pushed back a day.

What is Eid al-Fitr?

An estimated two billion Muslims across the world have spent nearly a month fasting in daylight hours for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. They have been praying, contemplating their faith, honoring loved ones and the community, giving to the needy, and asking for forgiveness for sins.

When Ramadan ends, Muslims celebrate completing it with an exuberant three-day celebration at the beginning of the next month, Shawaal, called Eid al-Fitr that includes Eid prayers, festive meals, social gatherings, dressing up, visiting the graves of relatives, gift-giving and donating to charities.

"Eid" means "festival" or "feast." Fitr means "breaking the fast."

What and when is Ramadan? What are the Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr dates in 2024?

When is Eid al-Fitr 2024?

That's a bit trickier. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic or Hijri lunar calendar. But the lunar calendar relies on actual sightings of the crescent moon, so future dates are always tentative and change every year.

Ramadan this year began on the evening of Sunday, March 10, for most Muslims in the world (especially in the U.S.) with fasting beginning the next morning. Fasting typically lasts 29 or 30 days and ends with the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.

That would make Tuesday, April 9, the start of Eid celebrations, provided the crescent moon is sighted Monday night. And that's the problem.

Will the solar eclipse interfere with Eid al-Fitr?

On Monday, April 8, millions of people across North America will be treated to a total solar eclipse. A solar eclipse means a new moon, and according to the United States Naval Observatory, sighting a lunar crescent within a day of a new moon is "usually difficult."

Monday's eclipse is in the afternoon. Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler told USA TODAY that the moon phase will be no more than 5 to 6 hours old at sunset, so it "will not be possible to see the crescent Moon that evening."

If that's the case, it won't be possible to see the Shawwal crescent moon until the next night, April 9, and then Eid al-Fitr would begin the next day, Wednesday, April 10. And Muslims around the world won't know for sure until Monday night.

How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated?

After beginning the day with a special prayer service and sermon at the mosque known as salat al-Eid, celebrations can include festivals, social gatherings, dressing in your best clothes, gift-giving, charitable donations and entertainment, according to whyisislam.org.

Eligible Muslims are expected to pay zakat during Ramadan, an alms-tax to go toward maintaining local mosques and easing the suffering of other Muslims in need. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is believed that charitable offerings given during Ramadan count much more toward the purification of the soul than in the rest of the year. Zakat al-Fitr is required on Eid, and some may choose to perform additional acts of charity on the day.

The three-day period is a time for friends and family, and festivities with the local Islamic community. Children often receive gifts of clothes, toys and jewelry.

The celebrations are a way for the community to show their gratitude to Allah after fasting and reflecting on their spiritual lives during Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr, also called the Lesser Eid, is one of the two official Islamic holidays. The other is Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice.

What is the pronunciation for Eid al-Fitr?

Eid is pronounced Eed, to rhyme with "seed." Fitr is pronounced like the English word "fitter."

Should I wish someone a Happy Eid?

Yes! Unlike Ramadan, which is not a holiday, Eid al-Fitr is a celebration and wishing someone a happy and prosperous Eid is always a good thing to do.

"Happy Eid" works just fine, but if you want to try Arabic the most common way is "Eid Mubarak," which means "have a blessed Eid." Or you could say "Eidkom Mubarak," which means the same thing but extends the well-wishing to the person's family or can be used toward a group.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ramadan ends Monday, but solar eclipse might extend it a day