Eid ul fitr and the endless yearly discussion about the “proper” name for it.

Eid ul fitr, the feast to mark the end of Ramadan, the yearly month in which practising, able-bodied Muslims fast throughout the day, will soon be upon as, God willing.

Together with lots of joy, good food, prayer and fun, in Holland, Eid ul Fitr also comes with an endless yearly discussion about the “proper” name for it.

Eid ul fitr, the Arabic name for it, literally means “Breakfast Feast” or “Feast of the Breaking of the Fast” (See the etymological similarities between the meaning of the word Eid ul fitr and the English word “breakfast”?)

The name “Eid ul fitr” is used quite widely, but it has many nicknames, including Eid Saghir (small Eid) in Morocco, Chothi (small) or Meethi (sweet) in Pakistan, Eid-e Fitr/Feast of the Lesser Bayram in Iran, Eid ul Fitr and Bodo in Surinam, Lebaran, or Hari Raya Idul Fitri in Indonesia, Ramazan Bayrami and Șeker Bayrami in Turkey and so on.

(It’s interesting that in many countries, Eid is associated with sweets, and/or with being a “smaller/lesser” version of Eid ul adha, the Feast of Sacrifice.)

In Holland, however, the name “Sugar Feast” is used by the majority of Dutch non-Muslims for this feast, and every year, some, mainly Arabic-speaking Muslims have a fit about it, claiming that “Sugar Feast” is a white Dutch name and that Eid is not about sugar.

Well, I get the last argument, but the first one is not true. “Sugar Feast” is a literal translation of the Turkish “Șeker Bayrami” which is a nickname for Eid ul Fitr invented by Turks, so no white-Dutch agenda here.

Also, many countries and cultures do see a link with the eating of sweets. And even though the essence of Eid ul Fitr isn’t about sugar, Muslims do indulge, just like Western Christians as well as non-Christian do with Christmas.

In my opinion, it is better to enjoy Eid, for both its spiritual and worldly aspects, than bicker about its name, or keep – erroneously- repeating that the term “Sugar Feast” is a white Dutch invention.