Eidiyah

Gifts across the family

While children usually anticipate envelopes of money from aunts, uncles, and grandparents, gift giving reaches across all ages in the household. Spouses often exchange items like fragrances, watches, jewellery, and fine clothing to mark the occasion. Parents frequently select practical items or treats for their offspring, ranging from shoes and reading books to new clothing and digital gadgets. Adult sons and daughters may receive cosmetics or apparel from their parents and in-laws. Siblings and close companions often send dedicated greetings cards to convey their holiday well wishes and strengthen family bonds.

Customs of distribution

Households follow different ways of distributing money to children. In some traditions, youngsters queue before the eldest family member, arranged from the youngest child to the oldest. In this setup, the amount handed out tends to rise with age, leaving the oldest youth with the largest sum. Elsewhere, relatives hand out funds without any formal line, offering identical sums to every child regardless of age. Ahead of the Persian new year, family members often visit local banks specifically to obtain bundles of crisp, uncirculated banknotes so that every child receives fresh cash.

Fairness and good manners

Etiquette plays a central role when giving holiday gifts. Givers take care to distribute cash and presents thoughtfully to prevent feelings of disappointment, sadness, or jealousy among young recipients. The total cash handed out naturally reflects the giver's income and family circumstances, with amounts shifting over the years as children mature. While not mandated as a religious duty or prophetic practice, offering these presents reflects valued ideals of kindness, hospitality, and shared goodwill during moments of communal celebration.

How Eidiyah is kept

Families gather in the home of an elder relative during the holiday. Children approach parents, grandparents, and visiting aunts and uncles to receive cash, often presented as crisp bills. In some families, young people form an orderly queue to receive sums that increase by age, while other households hand out gifts casually or in equal amounts. Spouses, siblings, and adult relatives also exchange presents, including apparel, perfume, and cards.

When and where

The custom takes place during the major celebrations of the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr at the conclusion of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha during the pilgrimage season. It is also observed at Nowruz, the traditional Persian celebration of the new year.

Observed across Muslim households globally, the practice is common in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, and among diaspora communities in Europe and the Americas. It is also widely kept in Iran and Azerbaijan for the new year.

What Eidiyah means

Although not an obligatory religious act, the gift represents familial affection, hospitality, and mutual generosity. It offers older generations a tangible way to express care for the youth, creating cheerful memories and fostering harmony within the extended family circle.

Days Eidiyah is marked

Questions people ask about Eidiyah

See also

PurimA lively Jewish festival of storytelling, shared food, masks and charityYaldā NightA solstice night of poetry, fruit and family, kept from Iran through Central AsiaChaharshanbe SuriAn Iranian festival of fire and renewal celebrated on the eve of the final Wednesday before spring.Sizdah BedarAn open-air picnic holiday concluding the Iranian New Year celebrations

Good reading and sources

• Demand for new notes for Eidi risesDawn, Article
• Demand for new notes for Eidi risesDawn, Article

• Eidiyah on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.