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Eid Gifts: What Do You Give for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha?

By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 21 hand-picked ideas

In many communities the date of Eid depends on the sighting of the new moon, so plenty of families don't know the exact day until the evening before. That small uncertainty shapes the whole holiday. Clothes are bought and pressed in advance, sweets are made ahead, and the last night of Ramadan is often a rush of errands. Then comes the morning itself: prayers, new clothes, visits to family and friends, a great deal of food and, for children, envelopes of money known as Eidi.

There are two Eids, and they're different festivals. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and is the one most associated with gifts, sweets and Eidi. Eid al-Adha comes about ten weeks later, during the season of the Hajj pilgrimage. It honors the story of Ibrahim (Abraham), and many families share meat from an animal sacrifice with relatives, neighbors and people in need; gifts are often part of the day too, especially for children. Most of the ideas on this page suit either one.

The guide is arranged around the people you're likely to be giving to: children, the hosts whose table you'll be eating at, the adults in your family, and the household getting ready for the day. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, both Eids arrive about eleven days earlier each year, so check the dates before you order. For other festivals, see our guides to Diwali gifts and Lunar New Year gifts, and gifts for mother-in-law if you're celebrating with a partner's family.

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If you need one thing today

  1. For the kids' EidiEid Money Envelopes for Eidi~$9
  2. Safe to bring to any hostMedjool Dates Gift Box~$30
  3. For someone who prays dailyPadded Prayer Mat with Compass~$28

Eidi, and why the envelope matters

Eidi is the money, and sometimes gifts, that older relatives give to children on Eid. In many families every aunt, uncle and grandparent hands some out, and the kids have compared totals by lunchtime. Amounts vary enormously between families and communities. What matters more is that it's given, ideally in fresh banknotes and a decorated envelope, and given in person when you can.

If you're a friend or partner joining a family's Eid for the first time, it's kind to ask whether you should bring Eidi for the children and what's usual. A modest amount in a nice envelope is almost always received warmly. Toys and books are welcome too, but for many children the envelope is the highlight of the day, and a small gift on top of it is a bonus rather than a replacement.

For the children

Beyond Eidi, a small present lets you choose something for one child in particular. Keep it simple; most kids get plenty of attention and sugar in a single day.

  1. 1.Eid Money Envelopes for Eidi ~$9

    Patterned envelopes made for Eidi. Fill them with new bills the night before so you're not hunting for an ATM on Eid morning.

  2. 2.Islamic Children's Storybook Collection ~$25

    Illustrated stories about Islamic values and the holidays for ages four to eight. Nice for reading together in the quiet evening after the visits.

  3. 3.Kids Prayer Mat with Learning Guide ~$24

    A child-size mat with the steps of prayer printed around the edge. Best from a parent or close relative, since families teach prayer in their own way.

  4. 4.Kids Kurta Pajama Set ~$28

    A festive outfit for Eid morning, a size big so it lasts. Ask the parents first, because many have the outfit planned weeks ahead.

  5. 5.LEGO Classic Creative Brick Box ~$35

    A box of bricks for the child who wants something to do once the guests have gone home. A safe toy for most kids from five up.

For the host whose table you'll share

Eid is a festival of visits. Families go from house to house through the day, and every host sets out food, tea and sweets for whoever comes. Arriving with something for the table is good manners in almost every culture that celebrates, and food is the natural choice.

Every food gift here should be halal-friendly: no alcohol, no pork, and nothing with pork-derived gelatin, which turns up in gummies, marshmallows and some desserts. Liqueur chocolates and rum-soaked cakes are out too.

  1. Our favorite6

    Medjool Dates Gift Box

    ~$30

    Dates are woven into Ramadan and Eid: many people break their fast with one, and a dish of them sits on most Eid tables. A box of soft Medjool dates is a gift any host will use, and a quietly respectful one from a colleague or neighbor who doesn't celebrate. Stuffed or chocolate-dipped dates make it a little more festive; check that any filling is halal.

  2. 7

    Baklava and Sweets Eid Gift Box

    ~$38

    Layers of thin pastry, nuts and syrup, packed in a box to share. It's a crowd-pleaser for a gathering with lots of guests, and a natural choice for a family with roots in Turkey, the Levant or the Gulf, where trays of these pastries are part of the holiday. Fresh baklava from a local bakery is every bit as good.

  3. 8

    Turkish Delight Gift Box

    ~$25

    Soft cubes of lokum dusted with sugar, often with pistachio or rose. In Turkey, Eid al-Fitr is known as ลžeker Bayramฤฑ, the Sugar Feast, and sweets like these are offered to every visitor. Traditional lokum is set with starch rather than gelatin, but check the label on any brand you don't know.

  4. 9

    Mixed Dry Fruit and Nuts Gift Box

    ~$38

    Nuts and dried fruit in a decorative box, a popular Eid gift in many South Asian families and a good alternative for a host who doesn't need more sugar in the house. It keeps for weeks, which helps on a day when the kitchen counter fills up with boxes from every visitor.

  5. 10

    Arabic Coffee Dallah Set with Cups

    ~$40

    A dallah, the long-spouted Arabic coffee pot, with small handleless cups. Serving cardamom-scented coffee with dates is a hallmark of hospitality in the Gulf, and Eid is when that pot gets the most use. A distinctive gift for a host who entertains often; pair it with the dates above.

Gifts for the grown-ups

Adults in many families exchange gifts at Eid too, often clothing, fragrance or something for the home. These are personal enough for a parent, spouse or sibling, and a few suit close friends.

Getting the house ready

In the last days of Ramadan, families decorate, cook ahead and get the house ready for guests. In many South Asian communities the night the moon is sighted is called Chand Raat, an evening of shopping, bangles and henna. Gifts that help with the preparations are especially thoughtful because they arrive while the work is happening.

  1. 17

    Eid Mubarak Decoration Banner and Balloon Set

    ~$16

    Gold Eid Mubarak lettering, balloons and crescent hangings for the living room. It's ideal for families with young children who love waking up to a transformed house on Eid morning. Deliver it a few days before the expected date so it's ready whenever the moon is sighted.

  2. 18

    Natural Henna Cone Kit

    ~$15

    Ready-to-use henna cones for the mehndi designs many South Asian women and girls apply on Chand Raat. A fun gift for a teenager or a group of cousins who like decorating each other's hands. Buy natural henna only, and avoid anything sold as black henna, which can contain a dye that causes serious skin reactions.

  3. 20

    Moroccan Style Lantern Candle Holder

    ~$30

    A pierced metal lantern that throws patterned light across a room. Lanterns have become a familiar Ramadan and Eid decoration in many homes, and this one looks just as good on a side table the rest of the year, so it never has to go back in a box.

  4. 21

    Bakhoor Incense Burner with Oud Chips

    ~$28

    A burner and oud chips for bakhoor, the scented smoke many Gulf and East African households use to perfume rooms and clothes before guests arrive. A lovely gift for a host who already loves it. Skip it for anyone with asthma or a home that's sensitive to smoke.

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Etiquette for first-time Eid guests

  • Plan for a flexible date. In many communities Eid isn't confirmed until the moon is sighted the evening before, so have your gifts ready a few days early.

  • If you give food during Ramadan, choose things that keep until sunset or Eid itself, and don't expect anyone to taste it in front of you during the day.

  • Keep it halal and alcohol-free: no wine, no pork products, no gelatin of unknown origin, and no alcohol-based perfume for someone you know avoids it.

  • Say "Eid Mubarak," which means roughly "blessed Eid." It works for both festivals and is always appreciated from friends and colleagues who don't celebrate.

  • Not sure where to begin with one particular person? Describe them to our gift finder and you'll get a short list with reasons.

Questions people ask about Eid gifts

What is a traditional gift for Eid?

Eidi, money given to children, is the most widespread tradition. Beyond that, dates, sweets, new clothes, fragrance and things for the home are common. Customs vary between Arab, South Asian, Turkish, African, Southeast Asian and other communities, so it's worth asking what a family usually does.

How much Eidi should I give?

There's no fixed amount; it depends on the family, the child's age and how close you are. Ask a parent what's usual in their family. A modest amount given warmly in a nice envelope is never wrong.

Are Eid al-Fitr gifts different from Eid al-Adha gifts?

In many families gift-giving is bigger at Eid al-Fitr, after Ramadan. At Eid al-Adha the focus is more on prayer, the sacrifice and sharing meat, though plenty of families still give Eidi and small presents. Any gift on this page works for either.

Can I give an Eid gift if I'm not Muslim?

Yes. Colleagues, neighbors and friends often send Eid wishes or a small gift, and it's usually appreciated. Food that's clearly halal-friendly, like dates or baklava, with a card saying Eid Mubarak, is a warm and safe choice.