Kuwait announces Eid Al Fitr holiday for government staff

Cairo: The Kuwaiti government has announced the holiday celebrating the upcoming Muslim Eid Al Fitr festival, noting that the length of the holiday will depend on sighting the crescent of the new Islamic month.

Workers at government agencies and state institutions will get a three-day holiday on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr, if it is proven by moon sighting that the first day of the Eid will be Sunday, March 30. Accordingly, official work will resume Wednesday, April 2.

But if the first day of the Eid falls on Monday, March 31, the holiday will begin on Sunday, March 30 and run for five days. Friday and Saturday are the weekend in Kuwait. So, official work will resume on Sunday, April 6.

The Kuwaiti Council of Ministers said institutions that undertake special work will determine their Eid holiday in coordination with the relevant authorities, taking into account public interests.

Ramadan is followed by Eid Al Fitr, celebrated for three consecutive days as of the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the lunar Islamic calendar.

In the lead-up to the occasion, stores traditionally experience a shopping spree for the Eid goodies including perfumes, sweets, clothes and children’s toys.

After performing a special prayer marking the Eid on the early morning of its first day, Muslims usually exchange greetings and visits. For their part, children celebrate the Eid by wearing new clothes.