Understanding Arabic holiday traditions is essential for anyone seeking to deepen their knowledge of the Middle East and Arab world. Whether it’s the widely celebrated Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha or other important cultural events, these holidays shape the social and linguistic landscape. In this article, we’ll journey through key Middle East holidays and Arab world holidays, equipping you with the relevant vocabulary and context.
Eid al Fitr (عيد الفطر)
Firstly, Eid al Fitr (عيد الفطر) is the holiday in the Middle East holidays celebrating the breaking of the fast of Ramadan. It usually starts with Muslims going to the (مسجد) masjid (mosque) and praying special Eid prayers. This is generally followed by shopping, visiting family and friends wearing new clothes and sweet perfumes, eating traditional sweet dishes, feasting, and gift-giving. Understanding Eid al Fitr is key to understanding Arabic holidays.
Eid al Adha (عيد الأضحى)
Secondly, Eid al Adha (عيد الأضحى), the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, is the second of the two Islamic holidays celebrated each year worldwide. It is also considered the holier of the two Eid holidays. It is a solemn tribute to the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command. The holidays usually include Eid prayers, animal sacrifice (usually sheep, but sometimes camels), giving of Zakat (charity), social gatherings, festive meals, and gift-giving. Learning about Eid al Adha gives great context to Arab world holidays.
Of course, most Arabic-speaking countries have different religious and secular Arabic holidays and may include:
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| المولد النبوي | almawlid innabawee | Prophet Muhammad’s birthday |
| السنة الهجرية | alsana ilhijriyah | Islamic New Year |
| الكريسماس | alkrismas | Christmas |
| عيد العمال | ‘eed il’umaal | Labour Day |
| يوم راس السنة | yawm ras ilsanah | New Year’s Day |
| عيد الأم | ‘eed il’um | Mother’s Day |
| عيد ميلاد | ‘eed meelad | Birthday |
| عيد الإستقلال | ‘eed ilistiklaal | Independence Day |
| شم النسيم | sham ilnaseem | Easter |
| عيد الأب | ‘eed il’ab | Father’s Day |
| الهالوين | alhaluween | Halloween |
| عيد الطفل | ‘eed ittifl | Children’s Day |
| عيد الحب | ‘eed ilhub | Valentine’s Day |
These additional celebrations demonstrate the diverse nature of Middle East holidays.
So now that you know some of the holidays, here are some common greetings to wish your friends happy holidays in Arabic during the Eid holidays:
- !عيد مبارك لكم ولعائلاتكم! / eid mubaarak lakum wa-li-‘a’ilatikum! / Blessed Eid to you and your family!
- !كل عام وانتم بخير. عيد مبارك! / kul ‘am wa-antum bi-khayr. eed mubarak! / May you celebrate this every year. Blessed Eid!
- أتمنى لكم عيد سعيد جداً! لتكن كل أعمالكم الخيرة مقبولة عند الله / ‘atamanna lakum eed sa‘id jiddan! litakun kul a‘malakum al-khayyira maqbula ‘ind allah / I wish you a very happy Eid, and may all your good deeds be accepted by God.
Whether it’s a holiday or any other day, kaleela.com wishes you the best in your Arabic language learning journey. Learning about Arabic holidays enriches your understanding of the culture. Don’t forget to download our app!
