End of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) in Suriname

Meaning and timing

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month. It falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar, so its date moves through the Gregorian calendar; Suriname’s education materials note that Islamic dates follow a different calendar reckoning.[2]

A Surinamese public holiday

Suriname’s 1971 Besluit Vrije Dagen names Id-ul-Fitr among the Muslim days treated as equivalent to Sunday. Government teaching material also identifies Eid al-Fitr as a national day off.[1][2]

In Suriname, the holiday is also known as bodo among Javanese people, according to the same government teaching material. This local name reflects one of the country’s cultural contexts for Eid; it should not be taken to mean every Muslim community uses the same name or observes the day identically.[2]

Prayer and public observance

Communal prayer is a documented part of Eid in Suriname. Government reports describe Eid prayers at Paramaribo’s Onafhankelijkheidsplein and at a mosque in the city, with public officials joining or attending. A report from a local mosque describes a special Eid prayer, speeches and gathering together as part of the observance.[3][4]

These reports also show the celebration reaching beyond the Muslim community: one government account describes people from other faiths attending a mosque event and sharing a meal. The examples are from specific local occasions, so they do not establish that every community holds the same programme or that customs are uniform across the country.[4]

Planning around the day

Check opening hours with government offices and banks before you go.[1][2]

Check the published calendar for the date being observed.[2]