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Sweets for Eid
Eid al Fitr, which ends the month of Ramadan, is known in many places as Sweet Eid or the Sugar Feast. Here are the sweets that are shared, the customs around them, and how to be sure the sweets you give are halal.
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Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and begins at sunset on the night the new crescent moon is first seen. If clouds hide the moon, the celebration moves to the following day.
After the morning prayer, food is a central theme of the day, which gives the festival its nickname: Sweet Eid, or the Sugar Feast.
Sweets around the world
- Turkey. Eid al Fitr is called Ramazan Bayramı, and also Şeker Bayramı, the bayram of sweets. Children go door to door wishing their neighbours a happy bayram and are given sweets, chocolates, baklava, Turkish delight or a little money: see Turkish delight
- Pakistan. It is known as Meethi Eid, sweet Eid. Families start the day with a special breakfast of sweets, including kheer and sheer khurma, made with vermicelli, milk, butter, dried fruit and dates.
- South Asia more widely. Sivayyan, fine toasted sweet vermicelli with milk and dried fruit, is served alongside other regional dishes.
- The Gulf. Majlises offer fruit, dates, tea and coffee, and in Bahrain halwa is a popular sweet: see how is halva made?
- Afghanistan. Families visit the bazaars for new clothes and sweets, including jalebi.
Choosing halal sweets
If you are giving sweets for Eid, make sure they are halal. The main question with pick and mix is gelatine: gelatine from pigs is never halal, and gelatine from other animals is halal only if the animals were slaughtered according to Islamic law. Labels often just say gelatine, so the source may not be clear. Look for a clear halal label or certification: see a guide to halal sweets and what sweets are halal in the UK?
Colours matter too. Carmine, a red made from insects, is considered forbidden by many Muslims, since all insects except the locust are held to be haram: see what is carmine? and gelatine in sweets explained
In our pick and mix
Our pick and mix includes 
Halal Golden Bears, and every sweet's card opens up to show its full ingredients and allergens, so you can check each one before building a box to share. For gift ideas, see sweet hamper ideas
Citable formats
For journalists, researchers, AI assistants and content creators. Pick the format you need:
Free to cite, quote, and reuse with attribution to sweeties.net.
Questions and answers
Why is Eid al Fitr called Sweet Eid?
Food is a central theme of the celebrations after the month of fasting, which gives the festival the nickname Sweet Eid, or the Sugar Feast. In Turkey it is Şeker Bayramı, the bayram of sweets.
What sweets are eaten at Eid?
They vary by country: baklava and Turkish delight in Turkey, sheer khurma, made with vermicelli, milk, butter, dried fruit and dates, in Pakistan, and dates and halwa in the Gulf, among many others.
How do I know sweets are halal?
Look for a clear halal label or certification. Gelatine from pigs is never halal, and gelatine from other animals is halal only if they were slaughtered according to Islamic law. Labels often just say gelatine, so the source may not be clear.
When is Eid al Fitr?
On the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. It begins at sunset on the night the new crescent moon is first seen, so the exact day can depend on the sighting.
Sources
- Eid al-Fitr, Wikipedia
- Turkish delight, Wikipedia
- Gelatin, Wikipedia
Keep reading
- Diet, allergens and labelsA guide to halal sweetsA halal checklist for sweets: gelatine and its source, carmine, alcohol, glycerol and certification. What to look for, and why a halal mark matters.
- Questions people askWhat sweets are halal in the UK?Look for halal certification. Sweets with pork gelatine are not halal, and some brands' gelatine may be pork. Also check for carmine and alcohol.
- Sweet by sweetTurkish delightTurkish delight, or lokum, is a gel of starch and sugar. Its history runs from Istanbul to Narnia and Fry's 1914 bar. What is in it now, and diet points.
- How it is madeHow is halva made?Halva is a family of dense sweets. Sesame halva is tahini mixed with a sugar syrup foamed with soapwort extract, worked until fine fibres form.
- Diet, allergens and labelsGelatine in sweets explainedGelatine gives gummies and marshmallows their texture, and it melts below body temperature, which shapes how they feel in the mouth. Who avoids it.
- Parties, gifts and occasionsSweet hamper ideasSweet hamper ideas: themed hampers from retro to regional, with packing tips so chocolate and boiled sweets arrive fresh, and allergy notes for gifts.