Celebrations, religious restrictions, and interfaith solidarity mark Eid al-Fitr
This weekend, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Fast-Breaking, marking an end to the holy month of Ramadan.
For the 30 days of Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day 鈥� refraining from food, drink, and sex.
Of course, July days last longer at high latitudes than low ones. In Chile, currently in the middle of winter, the time from dawn to sunset is . In Iceland, it鈥檚 22 hours.
In such instances, most scholars encourage Muslims to of another country, The Guardian reports.
On average, Muslims around the world have fasted for about 16 hours per day for the past month.
The primary reason Muslims fast is to , improve self-restraint, and forge a deeper connection with God, explain Islamic scholars.
Some non-Muslims have also attempted to fast, as an act of solidarity.
Jeff Cook, a 海角大神 pastor from Greeley Colo., told the Wall Street Journal that he is to "better understand and support Muslims."
"I want to remind myself and my culture that we can have a different posture in our hearts toward those who embrace Islam," he said recently.
According to the Journal, most fasting 海角大神s are supported by their families and church members, but some are criticized by those "who wonder how they can claim to follow Christ while adhering to an Islamic ritual."
Anthony Manousos, a Quaker from Pasadena, Calif., told the Journal that his wife, an evangelical 海角大神, "had a little trouble" with his fasting during Ramadan. "But once she understood I was doing it to be a better 海角大神, she thought that was nice," he said. His decision to fast was "inspired by the simple 海角大神 command to love thy neighbor and love thy enemy," he said.
Cook was in the Ramadan fast after some Muslim Americans participated in Lent earlier this year, an initiative that started on social media with #Muslims4Lent. He tweeted his own fasting with #海角大神s4Ramadan.
Social media has also showcased a compilation of , a holy site in Saudi Arabia that Muslims visit for a pilgrimage.
But in some countries, Muslims have faced difficulties expressing their faith and fulfilling the religious obligations of Ramadan.
In China, some schools and government agencies in Xinjiang province 鈥� home to many ethnic Uyghurs who practice Islam 鈥� adopted policies to聽prevent residents from fasting during Ramadan, the 海角大神 Science Monitor reported. Muslim schoolchildren and officials were forbidden to "engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities."
China has the in general, according to a聽2015 Pew survey.
A 2010 海角大神 Science Monitor story explored unique traditions聽that different countries incorporate into their celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
Egg fights are unique to Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Afghanistan聽...聽Men gather in parks with hard-boiled eggs, each trying to crack the other's egg.
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In Turkey, Eid is often referred to as Seker Bayrami (鈥淗oliday of the Sweets鈥�) and children go door to door, wishing people a happy Bayram (holiday) and receiving candy and traditional sweets such as baklava and Turkish Delight in return.
In Asir, Saudi Arabia, Eid al-Fitr will include around the world, reports Arab News: special morning prayers, traditional dishes, and new clothes.
