Blog home
Living Abroad
Stories

Eid al-Fitr: 5 facts about Ramadan

3 min read
Calculator placeholder

Send from

Enter the country or currency you want to send money from.

Popular

All countries

EUR Austria
EUR Belgium
EUR Croatia
EUR Cyprus
CZK Czech Republic
EUR Czech Republic
DKK Denmark
EUR Denmark
EUR Estonia
EUR Finland
EUR France
EUR Germany
EUR Greece
HUF Hungary
EUR Hungary
ISK Iceland
EUR Iceland
EUR Ireland
EUR Italy
EUR Latvia
EUR Liechtenstein
EUR Lithuania
EUR Luxembourg
EUR Malta
EUR Monaco
EUR Netherlands
NOK Norway
EUR Norway
PLN Poland
EUR Poland
EUR Portugal
RON Romania
EUR Romania
EUR San Marino
EUR Slovakia
EUR Slovenia
EUR Spain
SEK Sweden
EUR Sweden
GBP United Kingdom
EUR United Kingdom
TRY Turkey

Exchange Rate

– – –

GBP 1 = NGN 2030.28232

Transfer Fee

Free – – – 0.99 0.99 USD

Receiver gets

Enter the country or currency you want to receive money in.

Popular

All countries

AUD Australia
EUR Austria
EUR Belgium
BGN Bulgaria
EUR Bulgaria
CAD Canada
USD China
EUR Croatia
EUR Cyprus
CZK Czech Republic
EUR Czech Republic
DKK Denmark
EUR Denmark
EUR Estonia
EUR Finland
EUR France
EUR Germany
EUR Greece
HKD Hong Kong
USD Hong Kong
HUF Hungary
EUR Hungary
EUR Iceland
INR India
USD India
EUR Ireland
ILS Israel
EUR Italy
EUR Latvia
EUR Liechtenstein
EUR Lithuania
EUR Luxembourg
EUR Malta
MXN Mexico
EUR Monaco
EUR Netherlands
NOK Norway
EUR Norway
PHP Philippines
PLN Poland
EUR Poland
EUR Portugal
RON Romania
EUR Romania
EUR San Marino
EUR Slovakia
EUR Slovenia
ZAR South Africa
EUR Spain
SEK Sweden
EUR Sweden
CHF Switzerland
EUR Switzerland
TRY Turkey
USD Turkey
UAH Ukraine
EUR Ukraine
USD Ukraine
GBP United Kingdom
EUR United Kingdom
USD United States of America
IDR Indonesia
BDT Bangladesh
LKR Sri Lanka
DZD Algeria
AZN Azerbaijan
USD Azerbaijan
EUR Azerbaijan
USD Bahrain
BHD Bahrain
BOB Bolivia
CLP Chile
COP Colombia
DOP Dominican Republic
USD Ecuador
EGP Egypt
USD El Salvador
ETB Ethiopia
GHS Ghana
HNL Honduras
JMD Jamaica
USD Japan
JPY Japan
KZT Kazakhstan
USD Kazakhstan
EUR Kazakhstan
USD Kenya
KES Kenya
USD Kuwait
KWD Kuwait
MYR Malaysia
MDL Moldova
USD Moldova
EUR Moldova
MAD Morocco
NPR Nepal
USD New Zealand
NZD New Zealand
NGN Nigeria
PKR Pakistan
USD Panama
PEN Peru
USD Qatar
QAR Qatar
USD Saudi Arabia
SAR Saudi Arabia
XOF Senegal
USD Singapore
SGD Singapore
USD Thailand
THB Thailand
XOF Togo
UGX Uganda
AED United Arab Emirates
VND Vietnam
ALL Albania
AOA Angola
XCD Anguilla
AMD Armenia
USD Armenia
EUR Armenia
AWG Aruba
BSD Bahamas
BBD Barbados
BZD Belize
BMD Bermuda
BWP Botswana
BND Brunei Darussalam
XOF Burkina Faso
KHR Cambodia
XAF Cameroon
KYD Cayman Islands
XAF Chad
KMF Comoros
CRC Costa Rica
DJF Djibouti
XAF Equatorial Guinea
FJD Fiji
XAF Gabon
GMD Gambia
GEL Georgia
USD Georgia
EUR Georgia
GYD Guyana
KGS Kyrgyzstan
USD Kyrgyzstan
EUR Kyrgyzstan
LSL Lesotho
MKD Macedonia
MGA Madagascar
MWK Malawi
MVR Maldives
EUR Martinique
MRU Mauritania
MUR Mauritius
MNT Mongolia
MZN Mozambique
NAD Namibia
XOF Niger
USD Oman
OMR Oman
PGK Papua New Guinea
PYG Paraguay
EUR Reunion
RWF Rwanda
WST Samoa
SCR Seychelles
SBD Solomon Islands
SRD Suriname
SZL Eswatini
TZS Tanzania
TOP Tonga
TTD Trinidad and Tobago
UYU Uruguay
VUV Vanuatu
ZMW Zambia
USD Puerto Rico
UZS Uzbekistan
USD Uzbekistan
EUR Uzbekistan
TJS Tajikistan
USD Tajikistan
EUR Tajikistan
EUR Kosovo
TMT Turkmenistan
BTN Bhutan
XCD Dominica
EUR Andorra
XCD Saint Lucia
USD Guam
USD Timor-Leste
XCD Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
XCD Saint Kitts and Nevis
USD Micronesia
GIP Gibraltar
USD Virgin Islands, British
EUR Vatican City
XCD Grenada
ANG Curaçao
NZD Cook Islands
AUD Kiribati
This amount placeholder is shown due to an error in the calculator.
Sign up
Sign up to create an account and proceed in a new tab.

Delivered in minutes

Today is the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. This year, Ramadan lasted 30 days with Muslims around the world fasting for the duration. 

Translating to “the feast of breaking the fast” in English, Eid al-Fitr falls on a UK bank holiday in 2022—much to the delight of the many Muslims who are based here. 

Curious to find out more about Eid al-Fitr? Here are 5 facts about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

It starts with a crescent moon

This year, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began on 2nd April 2022 for most Muslims. But for others, it commenced on the following day. It all depends on when the crescent moon is spotted in the sky.

Ramadan then follows the lunar cycle, lasting 29 or 30 days depending on when the next crescent moon appears. It always takes place during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.

Muslims fast for the duration

Well, not all Muslims fast. But most of them do. If you’re over the age of 14, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual activities during the hours of daylight. However, those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly or unwell aren’t expected to do so.

Before and after each day of fasting, Muslims have two special meals. The first, Suhoor is eaten at sunrise, while Iftar (meaning “break of the fast”) is eaten at sunset.

Eid al-Fitr is a big celebration

The end of Ramadan is marked by a large celebration called Eid al-Fitr. The celebration lasts three days and sees Muslims come together with family and friends for morning prayers, followed by the preparation and sharing of large meals.

Muslims also often decorate their homes and give each other gifts. They also often donate to charity so that those less fortunate can join in the celebration.

It’s also sometimes referred to as the ‘Sugar Feast’

Thanks to the large amounts of desserts eaten, Eid al-Fitr is often referred to as the ‘Sugar Feast’. 

Different countries around the world have different favourites. For example, Muslims in Turkey often eat Baklava and Turkish delight and those in Iraq and Saudi Arabia favour dates as snacks before the pre-dawn meal. Meanwhile, Muslims in Yemen prefer Bint al sahn, a Yemeni sweet topped with nigella seeds.

Ramadan is a time for growth and reflection

The purpose of Ramadan is for Muslims to grow, spiritually reflect, spend time with loved ones and help those in need. It’s also a time to connect and become closer to Allah and family and friends.

The point of fasting itself is to nourish the soul and learn patience and compassion.

To all those celebrating Eid today, we wish you Eid Mubarak!

______________

Need to send money? Sign up to TransferGo today for easy money transfers at high speeds and low fees.  

About the author

jennifertate

Jennifer Tate

Jennifer Tate is a freelance copywriter and content manager based in Newcastle upon Tyne with over 15 years of experience in creating SEO copy and content for both leading brands and independent start-ups. Working across a variety of sectors from fintech to fashion and healthcare to homeware, Jennifer specialises in content creation, content management and social media strategies and has worked with TransferGo since 2017. As well as TransferGo, Jennifer has also recently created copy and content for Charlotte Tilbury, carecircle, Tommee Tippee and Robinson Pelham.

Invite friends to TransferGo, earn £20