What calendar determines the date of Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr’s date is determined by the Islamic calendar. It falls on 1 Shawwal, the tenth month of the Hijri calendar, marking the end of Ramadan.

The Islamic calendar is lunar: its months follow the cycle of the Moon, and a month may begin after the crescent is sighted. Because a lunar year is shorter than a solar year, Eid moves earlier by roughly 10 or 11 days in the Gregorian calendar each year.

A common mix-up is to say that Eid has one fixed Gregorian date. It does not. Communities may also celebrate on different Gregorian dates because authorities can use local moon sightings, astronomical calculations, or announcements from another country. The Islamic date itself remains 1 Shawwal.

The festival begins with Eid prayer, charity known as Zakat al-Fitr, family visits, festive meals, and greetings such as “Eid Mubarak.”