The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which signifies the end of the holy month of Ramadan, will commence on Friday.
According to a statement from the royal court cited by the official Saudi Press Agency on Twitter, Thursday was the final day of Ramadan, and Friday marks the first day of Eid al-Fitr for this year.
The timing of this holiday is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar, and it is typically celebrated with family gatherings.
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, during which observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, and traditionally gather with loved ones to break their fast in the evening.
Additionally, it is a time of prayer, with faithful Muslims coming together in large numbers at mosques, especially during the night. Fasting is widely observed in Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest shrines in Islam in Mecca and Medina. Saudis are expected to observe a four-day holiday for Eid al-Fitr.
