One of the most joyous days in the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr, also known as Eid ul-Fitr or Eid, is a celebration that marks the end of Ramadan (a holy month of fasting observed by Muslims). This year Eid falls on Thursday August 8th.

The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. As with Lent in Christianity and Yom Kippur in Judaism, this fasting creates space for reflection, humility and compassion. Current events in many Muslim countries give cause for all three. This is a day when Muslims around the world demonstrate a common goal of unity.

According to the Huffington Post, “Eid al-Fitr is a day of great merriment and thanksgiving. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes.”  A common greeting during this holiday is Eid Mubarak, which means, “Have a blessed Eid!”

This art work was created by a young artist from Kuwait. He describes his piece, “I am celebrating Eid (important Muslim festival directly after the holy month of Ramadan) and my father gives me Eidiyya (an amount of money for Eid). I chose this scene, because foreign students do not have a chance to see Kuwaiti currency so, I drew the coins and Cuban notes of my country.”

From all of us Eid Mubarak!