"Eid Mubarak": What does it actually mean?

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If you have Muslim fellow citizens in your environment or corresponding contacts on social media, you have certainly heard or read the words "Eid Mubarak". But what does that actually mean, and when do you wish someone “Eid Mubarak”?

meaning of the saying

"Eid Mubarak" can be roughly translated as "Happy Holidays". Just as Christians and others wish this for Christmas, Easter or other occasions, so Muslims wish one another for Muslim holidays. Such holidays are called "Eid". That means festival.

By the way: Muslims are usually happy to hear this from friends of other faiths. This is a great way to show acceptance of religion and let people know you love them.

When do you wish Eid Mubarak?

The most famous occasion to wish a Muslim a happy holiday is at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The Muslim fasting period is followed directly by the festival of breaking the fast, called Eid al-Fitr, which is also referred to as the sugar festival, especially among Muslims of Turkish origin. This end of Lent is celebrated in the large family circle including friends and neighbors with opulent feasts. Here it is important to know that a day in Islam begins with sunset. This means that you can only feast on the evening of Eid al-Fitr! However, the festival goes on until the evening of the following day.

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Another reason for saying this is the festival of sacrifice, called Eid ul-Adha or Eid-e Qurban. The Festival of Sacrifice lasts 4 days and is the highest festival in Islam. It will be Story commemorated by Ibrahim, who was commanded by God to sacrifice his son and was willing to do so. However, God called him back at the last second and showed mercy. This story is also familiar to Christians from the Bible.

Both festivals are determined using the Muslim calendar, which is lunar and different from ours. Therefore, these festivals take place on different dates every year. Most of the time, the date in our Gregorian calendar shifts by 11 days every year. So if you as a non-Muslim want to stay up to date, it is advisable to inform yourself in good time. However, Muslim friends will most likely be happy to answer questions and appreciate the interest.