Festipath

Eid al-Fitr

عید فطر

Eid-e Fitr is a one- or two-day national holiday in Iran on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth Islamic lunar month. It marks the end of Ramadan’s dawn-to-dusk fasting.

What happens

In Iran, Eid al-Fitr is marked by taking part in the Eid al-Fitr prayer and paying zakat al-Fitr. The prayer is a congregational religious act: it consists of two rakats and is performed in congregation only, generally in an open field or a large hall rather than indoors.

Before the prayer is performed, participants pay zakat al-Fitr, an obligatory act of charity. It is money given to the poor and the needy.

At Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, the Eid al-Fitr prayer and the sermon that follows it have been led by the Supreme Leader.

Why it matters

Eid al-Fitr matters as the close of Ramadan, when the fast that has structured a month of days comes to an end. Its first obligation is to give rather than to eat: zakat al-Fitr must be paid before the prayer may be performed. Because the prayer cannot be performed alone and must be held in congregation, the central act of the day is necessarily a gathering. As the Islamic calendar is lunar, Eid al-Fitr moves earlier through the Gregorian year each year rather than staying in one season.

When it happens

Caution

These dates are approximate: either the timing varies from year to year, or the rule behind them is not fully confirmed. Confirm this year’s dates locally before you travel.

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Before you go

Eid al-Fitr — visiting etiquette

Never

  • Do not photograph military or government installations. Photography near them is strictly prohibited and foreign nationals have been detained and charged.
  • Do not drink alcohol in public. There are no exceptions.

Photography

Photography near military and other government installations is strictly prohibited in Iran, and foreign nationals have been detained and charged under national security laws. These are Iranian laws that apply everywhere in public, not customs of this festival. They are recorded here because the observance happens outdoors, where they bind a visitor. Away from those sites, ask people before photographing them.

Dress

In public places women must cover their heads with a headscarf and wear trousers or a floor-length skirt with a long-sleeved tunic or coat reaching mid-thigh or knee; men should wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts. These are Iranian laws that apply everywhere in public, not customs of this festival. They are recorded here because the observance happens outdoors, where they bind a visitor.

Where it happens

Only the surrounding area is published for this location.

  • Iran

    General area only

  • Tehran & Alborz

    General area only

  • Isfahan & Yazd

    General area only

  • Shiraz & Fars

    General area only

Sources

Short code

ir-gnjkc

A short, stable identifier for this entry, printed on cards and quotable anywhere.