The Difference Between Eid el-Adha and Eid el-Fitr

If you live in the Middle East, you are probably familiar with Eid as it is an important festival in Islam and is celebrated more than once a year. The two major celebrations fall at an important time according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Both Eid el-Adha and Eid el-Fitr are commonly called with their shortened version of Eid.

Though the rituals are mostly similar in both the festivities, there is a vast difference between the reason for which they are celebrated.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr means a feast of breaking of the fast. It falls first of the two and according to the Islamic calendar, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal. It lasts for approximately three days. It is a celebration to mark the end of Ramzan, a holy month in which Muslims observe fast during the day and do charity which is also called Zakat.

On this day, people perform prayers to seek blessings. People wear new clothes, greet friends and family and celebrate by having a feast distributed among friends and family. Every adult of the family also gives gifts to the children and donates some amount to the poor on this day.

Eid al-Adha 

Meanwhile, Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah that comes two months after Eid ul Fitr. It is believed to symbolize the ultimate sacrifice by Ibrahim, also known as Abraham in the Hebrew texts, to show his love and devotion to God. On this day, Muslims offer the sacrifice of lamb or goat that is deemed a sacred offering.

Eid al Adha also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia which is a mandatory religious journey to the holy place of Kabbah. It is believed that once a Muslim completes this journey, their sins are washed away, and then that person is referred to as Hajji.

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