Muslims around the world celebrated the holy month of Ramadan and follow it with the holiday known as Eid al-Fitr or the feast of breaking the fast near the end of the month. This year, the Eid will be observed on Monday, July 28 in the United States and some other countries. 

After nearly a month long fast, Muslims are ready to celebrate for three days beginning next week.

"Though the most important part of the festival is the prayer of Eid that sees huge gatherings of Muslims in every nook and corner of the world, food is the most important part of the festival," reports Northern Voices Online.
 
Fruits such as dates and halal meals are expected to be consumed in abundance during this period. The celebration also involves buying gifts and eating the best food you can buy.

Young children may even get cash and other presents, as well as sweets during this time of year. The holiday's most important aspect, however, may be that of family togetherness.

Throngs of Muslims in Indonesia trying to get home for the festival even experienced a tragedy when three people died following the capsizing of a ferry, according to The Guardian. The boat sank off the southern coast of Malaysia.

According to the website timeanddate.com, the Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 29 in the United Kingdom. The website said that it's hard to always predict exactly when the feast will happen.

"Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen."

Muslims in the Philippines are expected to celebrate the holiday on July 29. According to GMA News Online, the holiday's celebration date is government by the sighting of a new moon. "Although the end of new moon phase after June 29 falls on July 28, the official end of Ramadan was set the day after, or July 29, to complete the 30-day cycle that completes a month."

A proclamation was issued earlier this month by the Philippine president calling Tuesday, July 29 the official country wide observance of Eid al-Fitr. "Promote cultural understanding and integration, the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration," the proclamation said.

To explain the confusion of any difference in dates, the Al Arabiya news spoke with Mohammad Shawkat Oudah, the chairman of the Islamic Crescent Observation Project. Oudahsaid most Islamic countries will sight the Shawwal moon on Sunday.

"Oudah said the first day of Eid will be on Monday for the people who use astronomical calculations and do not depend on visual sighting. He said the Eid will be on Tuesday for the countries which depend mainly on visual sighting and strongly scrutinize the testimonies of those who claim to have sighted the moon."