Most schools give pupils time off during the Eid celebrations but some still insist on holding module exams on Eid days, despite Department for Education and Employment guidelines that provisions should be made for students to sit examinations a day later as long as there is supervision in place. This problem is common in universities. Eid is observed at the end of Ramadan and at the beginning of a new month, Shawwal. The main rite is an early morning congregational prayer during which there is a bidding farewell to Ramadan. During Eid day Muslims visit families and friends, exchanging greetings and presents with joy and happiness.
Special dishes are prepared.
Muslims also give alms generously, particularly a special charity called zakah al-fitr. The money is normally given in advance to the poor so they, too, can share in the festivities. It is a day of spiritual fulfilment and humanitarian benevolence. We celebrate Eid having controlled our desires. It is also a day of peace and love and once again our thoughts are drawn to those less fortunate than us in being able to enjoy the end of Ramadan - the Muslims of Chechnya, Kosovo, Kashmir, Palestine and Srebrenica.