What does the Arabic name Eid al-Fitr literally mean?

Eid al-Fitr literally means “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” The name refers to the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month in which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset.

The celebration begins after the sighting of the new moon marking Shawwal, the month after Ramadan. Muslims commonly attend a special congregational prayer, give charity, visit relatives, and share festive meals. The timing follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so Eid moves through the seasons in the Gregorian calendar.

Eid al-Fitr is sometimes called simply “Eid,” although Eid al-Adha is another major Islamic festival. The two holidays have different meanings: Eid al-Fitr concludes Ramadan, while Eid al-Adha is associated with sacrifice and the Hajj season. Translating the name as “Festival of Breaking the Fast” describes the end of the month-long fast, not permission to break fast during Ramadan.