Islamic Holidays and Observances Explained
The Islamic year has a handful of major observances that follow the lunar Hijri calendar. Here is a clear overview of the main ones and why their Gregorian dates shift every year.
The two Eids
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan (1 Shawwal) and celebrates the completion of the fast. Eid al-Adha (10 Dhul-Hijjah) coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice. These are the two main festivals of Islam.
Other key observances
Ramadan (the month of fasting) and Laylat al-Qadr within it; the Islamic New Year on 1 Muharram; the Day of Ashura (10 Muharram); the Day of Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah, the day before Eid al-Adha); and Mawlid al-Nabi, the Prophet's birthday in Rabi al-Awwal.
Why the dates move each year
All these dates follow the lunar Hijri calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. So each observance arrives about 11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar annually. A Hijri-to-Gregorian converter shows the exact dates for any year.