March 28, 2024

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We asked Muslims in South Jersey to share Eid al-Fitr plans

Growing up in Saudi Arabia, Eid al-Fitr was the main holiday for Mona Aslam. So, when she moved here, she made it her mission to instill the excitement for Eid that she grew up with in her kids, who were more familiar with the holiday cheer of Christmas and Thanksgiving.

“Slowly and slowly, my kids grew up – teaching them what Eid is and how you get excited — and making sure that we had Eid decorations at home and talking to them about why we celebrate Eid, what the value of Eid is,” Aslam said. “And now … we all make sure that we clean the house, we cook good food and I plan an open house every year.”

Eid al-Fitr, which will tentatively land on May 13 this year, is one of two Eids observed by Muslims: The second is Eid al-Adha. This Eid marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal (the 10th month of the lunar Islamic calendar). The holiday’s date is hard to pin down in advance as it is determined by the sighting of the moon, which religious authorities in various countries rely upon.