Eid Mubarak! Eid party ideas for a celebration filled with joy, gratitude, and great food
After a month of fasting and spiritual reflection, everyone looks forward to the joyful celebrations that Eid-al-Fitr brings. It truly is a festival of good deeds, gratitude, and joy, and is celebrated best with lively social gatherings. That makes it a great opportunity to organize an incredible party for your family and friends.
If you’ve hesitated hosting an Eid party before, this could be your year! If you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.
We’ve got plenty of Eid party ideas for you to plan a memorable Eid-al-Fitr party, whether you’re inviting immediate friends and family members for a dinner party or throwing a larger affair.
Table of Contents
What is Eid?
There are two main holidays in the Islamic calendar: Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. Eid-al-Fitr, also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and falls on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the exact date of Eid depends on the sighting of a crescent or new moon. In 2024, Eid-al-Fitr is expected to be observed in the U.S. starting at sundown on April 9th through April 10th.
Eid-al-Adha, also called the “Festival of Sacrifice,” occurs on the last day of Hajj, or the annual pilgrimage Muslims are obligated to make once in their lives to Mecca. It always falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah. In 2024, Eid-al-Adha will be observed in the U.S. starting at sundown on June 19th.
Below, we have lots of great Eid party ideas to help you plan an elegant party like a pro.
“Layla” by Paperless Post; Image via Ayenia.
Eid decoration ideas for your party
To create an atmosphere of joy for your Eid party, balance light, scent, and decorations, accentuated with lunar motifs:
- Crescent moons and stars – Cut out crescent moon and star shapes to mark the lunar festival. You can also buy balloons with Ramadan messages.
- Lanterns and candles – Handcrafted decorative lanterns, oil lamps, and ornamental candles add an elegant ambiance. Use colorful lanterns, marquees, and LED lights to create a magical atmosphere by placing them in windows or as centerpieces.
Image via Unsplash; “Happy Eid” by Paperless Post.
- Incense – You can burn essential oils, oud, and incense to fill up your home’s Eid celebration. Use an Arab incense burner with cardamom, rose, and sandalwood to create a nostalgic Eid atmosphere.
- Floral arrangements – Use seasonal flowers to create a verdant floral sculpture or fresh floral bouquets. Or, take it up a notch with an Eid craft project by embellishing floral arrangements with candles and tea lights to create elegant garlands and table arrangements.
Ideas for your Eid dinner table
The Eid dinner table is a centerpiece in itself (since everyone is thinking about food after fasting for a month), and you’ll want to start preparing days in advance. In fact, during Ramadan, iftar parties (when Muslims break their fast) can be just as elaborate. If you’re planning to host an iftar party instead, any of these ideas would be just as useful.
Some of our favorite Eid dinner recipes include:
- Slow roasted succulent Halal lamb or goat meat
- A giant pot of rice with saffron, raisins, and nuts
- Sweet milk simmered with vermicelli (Sevaiyan or Kheer)
- A thousand-layer cake (Lapis Legit)
- One of your own delicious regional recipes
What matters is creating an inviting table spread that your guests can enjoy.You can also ask your guests if they have any dietary restrictions you should know about.
Here are some ideas to take your Eid table to the next level:
- Place a white, gold, or patterned tablecloth on the table. Use lanterns, string lights, candles, or flowers as a lavish centerpiece or table decor.
- Use stencils to write “Eid Mubarak,” “Happy Ramadan,” or other greetings on cakes topped with flowers, meringue, and nuts. Affordable cupcake toppers are a quick and easy crowd pleaser, too. Display an assortment of delicious homemade cookies, dried fruits, and sweet treats on Ramadan-themed party platters with starry napkins to match
- Place individually wrapped date balls or Turkish nougat at each table setting. Or fill themed gift boxes with sweets and other small gifts as party favors.
- If you’re hosting a larger affair, order disposable Eid party supplies to make cleanup easier.
Ideas for Eid-al-Fitr activities
If children will be attending (or you’re hosting fun-loving adults), try these crowd-pleasing party activities.
Eid activities for kids:
- Decorate cookies – Shop for Islamic design baking tools and cookie cutters to make crescent-, star-, and lantern-shaped cookies. Kids can decorate the cookies with homemade buttercream icing and sugar sprinkles. They can also make a gingerbread mosque (Masjid).
- Read a Ramadan story together – Purchase children’s books to read on Eid, so they can learn more about the holiday. Some beloved books you can read together are “The White Nights of Ramadan,” “Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr,Ilyas & Duck Fantastic Festival of Eid-Al-Fitr,” and “Moon’s Ramadan.”
- Eid money envelopes – a longstanding tradition on Eid is to give younger relatives envelopes stuffed with cash (referred to as Eidi or Eidyah), which will get them excited for sure.
- Make Eid gift boxes – Purchase art supplies, take-out boxes, plain party bags, and colorful construction paper so kids can decorate their own party favor bags and boxes. Encourage them to get creative and incorporate Arabic script or what Eid symbolizes to them.
Eid activities for adults:
- Prepare conversation starters, especially if your guests don’t know each other well.
- Place a wall tapestry, banner, “Happy Ramadan” (Ramadan Mubarak) backdrop, or moon and stars string lights to create a photo backdrop where you can capture special moments with your guests.
- Apply henna or mehndi together to adorn your hands and feet.
“Blessed Fest” by Paperless Post; Image via Meena Boutique.
- Exchange gifts of books, sweets, fabrics, or gourmet food baskets with each other. You can also do a secret gift exchange (secret bakra) so you don’t have the pressure of shopping for every guest individually.
- Create a playlist and have a dance party at home, incorporating your favorite Happy Eid songs and festive beats from around the world.
- If you’re hosting your celebration outdoors, you can decorate the garden or patio with lights, light a bonfire in the backyard, and play lawn games outside.
Image via Martha Stewart; “Moon Blooms” by Paperless Post.
Charitable activities for everyone:
Finally, Eid-al-Fitr is not only a holiday for celebration, it is also an opportunity to teach kids about charitable giving.
- Donate household items as you clean up your home to prepare for Eid. Gather gently used toys, clothes, and other household items to donate to those in need.
- Set up a donation gift basket at your party and ask guests to bring an item to contribute.
- Depending on the number of guests, you can arrange to visit a community center or homeless shelter and have the kids participate in donating or volunteering.
“Eid Sunset” by Paperless Post.
When should I send my Eid-al-Fitr invitations?
Send out invitations up to three weeks in advance, and allow yourself at least one week to organize your Eid or Ramadan party. Online Eid party invitations are easy to customize, and you can make them thoughtful and unique with your own text and festive backgrounds. You can also send an elegant animated Flyer via email or text. Want to add a special personal touch to your Eid invitations? Our Personal Design Services team is here to help.
Image via Saveur.
What about Eid-al-Adha party ideas?
When it comes to decorations, dinner planning, and activities, you can use most of the same ideas for an Eid-al-Adha party. The important thing to remember is what this holiday represents and to incorporate those themes into your celebrations.
One of the cornerstones of Eid-al-Adha is donating meat (typically goat or lamb) to those in need. As a result, having a meal centered on goat or lamb is very popular. When it comes to Eid-al-Adha decor, opt for more candles, lanterns, and flowers, and focus less on crescent moons and stars.
“Ramadan Kareem” Flyer by Paperless Post.
Ultimately, the celebrations are similar and the energy and zest for the occasions are equally as vibrant, so you can’t go wrong with the suggestions above.
Now that you’re brimming with ideas for your Eid party, it’s time to choose your invitation. From crescent moon motifs to shimmering lanterns, Paperless Post has beautiful invitation templates perfect for your gathering.
