Eid 101: Five facts about Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is celebrated over three days. Here are five facts about the holiday.

1. Breaking the fast

Thaier al-Sudani/REUTERS
Sunni worshippers eat breakfast together after their Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at a Sunni mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, August 8, 2013.

Eid al-Fitr literally means the Festival of Breaking the Fast, and it marks the end of a month-long fast. During the month of Ramadan, observant Muslims are expected to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk in order to purify their minds and bodies. On the day of Eid, however, it is forbidden to fast.

Traditional greetings during Eid are Eid Mubarak, which means "Blessed Eid," and Eid Said, meaning "Happy Eid."

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