Muslims in the UK begin their celebrations on Wednesday to mark the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. 

Eid al-Fitr is one of the biggest festivals in the Islamic year and millions of Muslims around the world will be joining the party together. Because it is based on the lunar calendar, Eid falls at different times in different countries. In the UK, US and Canada the Eid celebrations will go on between 6-8 July. But in other countries the festival lasts much longer and in many Muslim countries is granted several days of public holiday. 

The first day of Eid al-Fitr is the one day of the Islamic year that Muslims cannot fast on. Typically this is marked with a small sweet breakfast such as a date before the special Eid prayers known as Salat al-Eid.

Here is a snapshot of the Eid al-Fitr being observed around the world:

Special prayers are said during Eid known as Salat al-Eid. These are marked to thank Allah for helping them to complete the fast. 

Men and women pray seperately. Here thousands of Muslim women attend Eid al-Fitr prayers in Srinagar, India.

The day is marked with an obligatory donation to charity. A girl outside the Blue Mosque, in Taguid, Philippines, waits for the gift box.  

For many Muslims around the world Eid al-Fitr is not a time of rejoicing. Here a Palestinian woman prays next to the grave of her relative at a cemetery on the first day of Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Gaza City.

And here in Greece, a makeshift room is all that these Muslim men can find to offer their Eid prayers.

But generally Eid is a time of great celebration and festivity. 

Here Muslim men in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, sing after attending Eid al-Fitr prayers.

And Afghan youths ride on swings during the first day of the public holiday of Eid al-Fitr, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

For more information about what happens at Eid al-Fitr and why it is celebrated click here.

And for more details about when it is observed in different parts of the world, click here.