Reinventing support for cultural practice in the workplace: Eid al-Fitr

Delta Capita do everything we can to encourage employee success. This includes supporting religious and cultural practices and celebrations, which are crucial contributors to many people's wellbeing.

As Eid al-Fitr begins, we support our Muslim colleagues as they celebrate the end of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. We ask all our employees to show understanding as their colleagues observe such religious practices and celebrations.

As we wish all our Muslim employees a blessed Eid, Bola Oloko, senior consultant at Delta Capita, looks at the celebration and what it means to Muslim communities.

Celebrating Eid al-Fitr

As Ramadan ends, I will be joining Muslims worldwide in marking the end of our holy month with a celebration called Eid al-Fitr, which means festival of breaking fast.

Eid al-Fitr marks the completion of a whole month of fasting, reflection, and spiritual connection. During the celebrations, we offer thanks for having had the strength and will to fast.

To me, Eid al-Fitr feels like a reward and an accomplishment. After fasting for 30 days and being true to yourself, your spiritualty, and beliefs, you get that one day to celebrate all your hard work.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam – the fundamental rules worshippers must follow. It carries great significance during the holy month and I think coming together to share a meal or feast is a fitting way to end the fast.

How Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr

There are two equally important Eid celebrations in the Muslim calendar, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha - with the latter falling in July this year.

As Islam follows the Lunar calendar, Eid al-Fitr also marks the sighting of a new crescent moon. In the UK, Eid al-Fitr is expected to begin on the evening of 2 May and end on the evening of 3 May, subject to official moon sighting.

On the main day of Eid al-Fitr, our celebrations naturally begin with prayers at dawn, usually at a mosque. The festival has a special prayer, designed to be performed in a congregation.

The day focuses heavily on celebrating, feasting and reflecting together with family, friends and loved ones; and on giving to the poor and those in need. During the celebration, we give presents, wear new clothes, visit relatives' graves, and give charitable donations to those in need, known as zakat.

My favourite part is the house hopping, where we visit different family members, help with the cooking, and eat special celebration dishes. My fondest memory growing up was my aunt’s parties. She was the host every year, and I would just play all day with my cousins in our new shiny new clothes and shoes.

Delta Capita wishes all our Muslim colleagues and clients a Blessed Eid.

Reinventing cultural support

Delta Capita want our employees from all backgrounds and beliefs to feel included. We support and encourage staff to allocate time to their religious and cultural practices, and to their physical and mental wellbeing too.

Employees that feel supported in these activities generally feel healthier, happier, and have more sense of belonging and engagement at work.

If you are looking for a new workplace that values diversity and employee wellbeing, check out our latest vacancies here.

You can also find out how Delta Capita are reinventing the workplace through employee-centric projects at our Reinventing Hub.

This is the third in a series of articles about our employees’ religious beliefs and practices, with the first two focusing on Ramadan and Easter.