Eid

American  

[eed] / id /

noun

1. either of two Islamic festivals, Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha.

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Usage

What is Eid? Eid is a short name for two different major Islamic festivals that occur at different times—Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.Both are commonly referred to as Eid for short, and the greeting Eid Mubarak (roughly meaning “Happy Eid” or “Blessed Eid”) can be used for both.Eid al-FitrEid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day.Eid al-fitr begins the day after Ramadan ends. Its name means “festival of the breaking of the fast.” It is traditionally marked with a special meal—which for many Muslims is the first daytime meal they’ve eaten in a month.Along with the Eid al-Fitr feast, many Muslims observe the day by getting dressed up, decorating their homes, gathering with family and friends, attending services at their mosque, and making charitable donations.Eid al-Fitr is sometimes spelled Eid-ul-Fitr.Eid al-AdhaEid al-Adha is a four-day festival that commemorates the story of Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s)  willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael (Ishmael) when Allah commanded him to. When Ibrahim showed that he would obey, Allah provided a sheep for Ibrahim to sacrifice instead.For this reason, Eid al-Adha traditionally involves sacrificing a sheep or goat. The meat is then divided among family, friends, and those in need.Many Muslims observe the festival by dressing up, attending services at their mosque, gathering with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and making charitable donations.Eid al-Adha occurs on the last day of Hajj, a pilgrimage that Muslims are obligated to undertake once in their lives.Eid al-Adha can also be spelled ʾId al-Adha or Eid-ul-Adha. It is sometimes called Big Eid, the Festival of Sacrifice, and the Great Festival.

Etymology

Origin of Eid

First recorded in 1695–1700; from Arabic ʿīd “festival, feast,” from Aramaic ʿed “day of assembly, feast day, festival”

Example Sentences

Those needs can be especially acute during religious festivals like Eid for Muslims and the approaching Hindu festival of Chhath.

From Barron's

The gathering of just a few hundred worshippers was a far cry from the typical way Eid is usually marked in Jerusalem, when some 100,000 people flock to Al-Aqsa.

From Barron's

The United Arab Emirates also reported missile attacks, while Saudi Arabia intercepted more than a dozen drones early Friday as Gulf nations began the observation of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

From Barron's

"Maybe it's different for the rich, but the joy of Eid is missing here... We have no money, and the displaced people can't even go back home," she said.

From Barron's

Iranians were marking the new year spring festival of Nowruz on Friday, as well as the final day of Ramadan, with state media reporting Iran would observe the start of the Eid holiday on Saturday.

From Barron's