There’s no concept of auspicious or taboo colours, so you’ve got free play on your #OOTD’s colour scheme. Still, it’s a festive occasion, so a colour pop would be appreciated. 

The more important thing to take note is that your dressing should be modest – stay away from shorts, mini skirts, cropped tops etc. 

PS. As with Asian homes in general, you would need to take off your shoes before entering, but your socks can stay on. 

That said, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and make sure that they’re easy to take off and put back on. 

When you arrive, make a point to look for your host (and his or her parents) and greet them with “selamat hari raya,” which loosely translates to “happy joyous day” in Malay. Another version you might come across is  “Eid mubarak”, which is “blessed celebration” in Arabic. 

You might have seen a Muslim take an elder’s hand and kiss it; go ahead and do that if you’re comfortable, but it’s also okay for non-Muslims to greet with a simple hand-shake. But remember this: Cross-gender contact is frowned upon, so don’t go shaking hands with someone of the opposite gender.

When in doubt, just stick to greeting with a smile and a nod. 

Nothing. It’s perfectly fine, really, as you are invited solely for the pleasure for your company. But if it’s so ingrained in you to never turn up empty handed, drinks and snacks (make sure it’s all halal though – so skip the alcohol-spiked ice cream tubs!) are always a safe choice. 

Don’t worry about green packets either, as they’re not expected of non-Muslims. However, if you really want to join in the fun, you can give a green packet for your host’s children. The amount is totally up to you (instead of the complicated affair that ang paos are) and you can get empty ones from convenience stores or the Malay Heritage Centre. 

If your host were to offer a green packet to your kids, teach them to receive it with both hands. A simple “thank you” works, but it’s good to also repeat the greeting “selamat hari raya”. 

Be sure to go on an empty stomach, because hosts will do their utmost to feed you well until you’re full. Typically on the menu are traditional Malay foods like rendang, mee rebus, and briyani – and those are just the mains. Save space for dessert, because there’ll be kueh and other baked goodies to snack on too. 

Make it a point to wash your hands before joining in at the table, even if your host has laid out a set of fork and spoon for you. And always use your right hand to receive or pass food as the left hand is considered unclean. 

Your over-arching duty as a guest is to accept your host’s hospitality, and to return that by engaging with them and other guests.

If your host’s parents are around, make an effort to chat with them too. (If language turns out to be a barrier, fall back on the classic “selamat hari raya” and a wide smile.)

The first three days are usually reserved for Muslims to visit their closest family members. So, don’t be offended if your Muslim friend doesn’t invite you over to their place immediately. 

Hari Raya celebrations usually last an entire month so there’s plenty of time! 

If your friend is having an open house and has invited plenty of friends over, make it a point not to stay too long. 

While your host might be too polite to ask you leave, there is definitely such a thing as overstaying your welcome. 

Keep visiting to about two hours max if you’re in a big group. 

While it’s not necessary to bring a gift, it’s simply etiquette to bring a small token of appreciation — regardless of religion or race — when visiting someone’s home on a special occasion. 

For Hari Raya, make it a point to avoid bringing alcohol and anything non-halal. 

We guarantee, your host will definitely remember you for the time you brought them a box of chocolates or cupcakes when visiting and we can almost guarantee this will mean you’ll get an invite next year too! 

Hari Raya Puasa, or Eid al-Fitr, refers to the Festival of Breaking The Fast. This marks the end of Ramadan, and shouldn’t be confused with Eid al-Adha – or more commonly known in Singapore as Hari Raya Haji – the Festival of Sacrifice.

And though “Hari Raya” translates to “day of celebration” in Malay, festivities actually last for a whole month. Eid al-Fitr marks the first day of Syawal (شوّال in Arabic), which is the tenth month of the lunar Islamic calendar – which explains why we might see families going for visiting even after the official Hari Raya holiday.

We wish everyone in Singapore, especially our Muslims friends, Selamat Hari Raya!