They then went to the mosque headed by the Caliph riding on a white horse and surrounded by his soldiers. People chanted in the street praising God and the Caliph who prayed in the mosque in front of other men and later delivered the Eid sermon. Upon the return of the Caliph's procession to the palace, banquets are held and poets recited their poems eulogizing the Caliph. The first hours of the first morning of eid are similar in all Muslim towns and cities. After the dawn prayers and the exchange of felicitations, people start doing their own special traditions which differ from one country to another.
Many people visit their relatives and friends to exchange greetings.
Some people nowadays use the telephone for this purpose. Eid is truly a happy occasion for all Muslims. For this reason new habits have appeared in many Muslim societies. Children in particular engage in many festive activities. The amount of money given varies according to the seniority and closeness of that relative.