Muslim communities worldwide are coming together for Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, 30 March, or Monday, 31 March. Families and friends celebrate the last day of Ramadan by breaking the fast together, praying and exchanging gifts.

The dates of Ramadan are based on the lunar calendar and advance by approximately two weeks each year. This means that celebrations can take place in the midst of winter or summer, resulting in very different fasting periods. In 2018, for example, Muslims in Oslo fasted for over 18 hours.

In places further north where the sun barely sets in summer, Muslims can choose to break their fast using the time of either the sunset in the nearest country that does not have near-continuous daylight, the nearest Muslim-majority country, or observe Mecca’s time instead.