Prayer in front of the Grand Mosque of Paris on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr. FRED DE NOYELLE / GODONG / PHOTONONSTOP
Aïd Moubarak! Wednesday April 10 is a day of celebration for Muslims in France, who celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, the breaking of the fast, and the end of Ramadan.
How is this date determined?
In a press release dated April 1the French Council of Muslim Worship (CFCM) affirmed that, “in accordance with scientific data”the day of Eid-el-Fitr was set for Wednesday April 10, 2024.
The Grand Mosque of Paris confirmed this date of April 10, after the traditional observation of the Moon during the Night of Doubt, Monday evening. The rector of the Grand Mosque had estimated on that“ignoring this night under the pretext that modern technology allows us precise calculations would be like neglecting the call to prayer simply because we have watches or connected devices”.
Saudi Arabia, land of Islam’s holiest places, also announced on Monday that Eid el-Fitr would begin on Wednesday, as did Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The end of the month of Ramadan is postponed by around ten days each year, because it is fixed on the Hegira calendar, which only has 354 or 355 days per year. According to this count, which begins with the departure of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca, in 622 of the Gregorian calendar, we are currently in the year 1445. This day is not a public holiday in France.
Read: Article reserved for our subscribers In Marseille, on Ramadan evenings at La Bûche braisée, “it’s like home”
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What are we celebrating?
This is to mark the breaking of the fast observed during the holy month of Ramadan, which began on March 11, 2024. The festive day is therefore marked by a prayer at the mosque, but also exchanges of wishes, pastries, tea and small gifts.
Traditionally, believers put on new clothes, give each other gifts and pay alms, the zakat al-fitrintended for the poor. Its amount is the subject of various estimates. It was set at 7 euros in 2018, an amount that continues to be recommended the Great Mosquewhile the CFCM estimated that this amount “had to evolve given the significant increase in food prices in recent years”, and determined it at 9 euros per person. The media Saphir News reminds us that this diversity is not new: the Ditibthe body which represents Turkish Muslims, has just reassessed the amount of the zakat from 10 to 15 euros in 2024.
Quiz: What do you know about Ramadan?
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What is the difference with Eid-el-Kébir?
Eid-el-Fitr, the celebration of rupture, is also called Eid-el-Séghir, which means “small celebration”, as opposed to the “big celebration” that constitutes Eid-el-Kébir. Also called “Eid el-Adha”, the latter is a commemoration of the sacrifice recounted in the Koran and in the Old Testament: as Abraham prepares to kill his son to obey God, an angel replaces the body of the child by that of a ram. In remembrance, Muslims carry out ritual sheep slaughter – a practice that is not carried out for the end of Ramadan.
Only the prayer pronounced and the formula of wishes (Aïd Moubarakor “happy holiday”) are the same for both celebrations.
Read: What is Eid-el-Kébir, the “great festival” of Muslims?
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