CAIRO (AP) — Muslims around the world are bidding farewell to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and will soon start celebrating the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Eid is typically greeted with joy and excitement and is marked with congregational prayers and festivities that usually include family visits, gatherings, outings and new clothes.
But this year, Eid is approaching amid the Iran war, which has been roiling many countries in the Middle East and leading to far-reaching consequences beyond.
In the United States, many Muslims observed Ramadan's religious and social traditions this year under a cloud of worrisome domestic and international events. Those include immigration crackdown fears and anti-Muslim rhetoric in the U.S. as well as the war in the Middle East, where many have loved ones.
Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the month when devout Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a time for increased worship, charity and good deeds, and typically sees festive gatherings to break the fast.
Eid al-Fitr means the feast, or festival, of breaking the fast.
Islam follows a lunar calendar and so Ramadan and Eid cycle through the seasons. This year, the first day of Eid al-Fitr is expected to be on or around March 20. The actual date may vary among countries and Muslim communities.
To greet someone celebrating Eid, you can say: Eid Mubarak, or Blessed Eid, and Happy Eid.
In Indonesia, many people embark on an exodus to their hometowns to celebrate the holiday with loved ones in a homecoming tradition. People pour out of major cities to return to villages to celebrate the holiday with prayers and family gatherings.
Before the holiday, popular markets typically teem with shoppers buying clothes, shoes, cookies and sweets.
In Malaysia, Muslims also have a homecoming tradition for Eid. The first day usually begins with a morning prayer in the mosque, seeking forgiveness from family and friends, and visiting loved ones’ graves.
There’s an “open house” spirit that sees friends and families trading visits to celebrate Eid and enjoy traditional delicacies.
Older Muslims give money in green packets to children and guests who visit their homes.
In Egypt, families partake in Eid prayers amid a festive atmosphere. Many visit relatives, friends or neighbors and some travel to vacation spots. Children, usually wearing new Eid outfits, receive traditional cash gifts known as “eidiya.”
Making or buying Eid cookies dusted with powdered sugar is another fixture of marking the holiday in the country.
In the United States, where Muslims make up an ethnically and racially diverse minority, many come together for Eid prayers and for festivals featuring fun activities for children and families. These often include such things as face painting and balloon twisting.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
People wait to board passenger train to return home to celebrate the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holidays, marking the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a railway station in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
People wait for passenger trains to return home to celebrate the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holidays, marking the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan at a railway station, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
A family browses footwear at a local market for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
MIAMI (AP) — Aaron Judge walked slowly back and forth in the United States dugout Tuesday night while Venezuelan players shed tears and fell to their knees to celebrate the country's first World Baseball Classic title.
Other players from the Americans' $320 million roster stood frozen for several minutes before receiving their silver medals. Bryce Harper, who hit a tying homer in the eighth inning, went over to shake hands with Team Venezuela players before leaving the field.
“In those moments, it's like the Olympics or anywhere else,” Harper said. “I'm really happy for them. Obviously, I want to win no matter what. That's what I play for, is to win a championship and a goal medal. But in that moment it's not about me, it's about us and our game.”
Team USA brought its most loaded roster ever to baseball’s premier international event, but the Americans lost their second straight WBC final after winning the championship in 2017.
“Obviously disappointed,” Judge said. “All of us put on this uniform to go out there and win a gold medal. We fell short of that.”
The U.S. produced just three hits Tuesday night and four runs over the final two games of the WBC — well short of offensive expectations for a roster of players who combined for 382 home runs and 1,111 RBIs last MLB season.
Three years after losing to Shohei Ohtani and Japan in 2023, the Americans were again disappointed, this time by an energetic Venezuelan team led by All-Stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez mowed down the Americans' fearsome lineup with measured ease on Tuesday, leaving the colorful celebration to his teammates who met him with claps as he stoically exited the mound in the fifth.
Rodríguez fanned Judge — the U.S. captain went 0 for 4 — twice among four strikeouts and held the Americans to just one hit over 4 1/3 innings.
“I’m not going to make any excuses for us,” said United States manager Mark DeRosa. "I think at the end of the day ... it’s early in spring training. Guys are getting ready for the season. Eventually I think the tournament gets moved and I think the guys are in better form pitching-wise.
“But ultimately it’s who gets hot at the right time, who gets a big swing.”
The Americans have won just one title in six iterations of the tournament. DeRosa indicated that the U.S., which has received more buy-in from marquee MLB position players over the years, is still lacking the same commitments from star pitchers.
Reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal participated this year but made just one start in pool play in order to stick with his ramp-up schedule for the regular season with the Detroit Tigers.
“I think every position player wants to play in it," DeRosa said. “I think from a pitching standpoint, everybody’s at different stages in their career. You've got to get buy-in from the team. You’ve got to get buy-in from the player. You've got to get buy-in from the agent. I think everybody in their heart ... wants to do it. It’s just, what’s the timing of where they are at in their career?”
Venezuela's bullpen gave up only two hits, including Harper's two-run homer over the center-field fence against Andrés Machado in the eighth.
Arraez walked against Garrett Whitlock starting the ninth and pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second just ahead of catcher Will Smith’s throw, then came home on Eugenio Suárez double. Suárez spread his arms wide and pointed to the sky at second base while teammates streamed from the dugout to greet Sanoja at the plate.
It signaled another brutal finish could be coming for the U.S., which lost the 2023 WBC title game when Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to win it for Japan.
The American roster was made up of players who have combined for more than 2,300 home runs and 419 saves, and nine of them have played in a World Series.
But they never quite displayed the full extent of their offensive firepower. They hit .250 over seven games with 44 runs, 10 homers and 40 RBIs.
DeRosa said he was surprised by the lack of offense “because of the names at the back of the jersey, but not surprised because of where they’re at in spring training."
“That’s my answer,” he added. “I really don’t have a rhyme or reason to why. I just think you’re either hot or not in a seven-game blast like this.”
After the U.S. beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 in the semifinals, DeRosa said he was still waiting for his team to break loose at the plate.
That will have to wait another three years.
This story has been corrected to show Eduardo Rodríguez pitched 4 1/3 innings, not 5 1/3 innings.
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Former MLB player Clayton Kershaw carries a silver medal after the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
United States pitcher Tyler Rogers walks the pitchers mound during the ninth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
United States manager Mark DeRosa hugs starting pitcher Nolan McLean at the end of the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
United States right fielder Aaron Judge shakes hands with manager Mark DeRosa after receiving their silver medals following the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
United States manager Mark DeRosa relieves United States pitcher Nolan McLean during the fifth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
United States pitcher Nolan McLean reacts after walking Venezuela Ronald Acuña Jr. during the third inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
United States Aaron Judge gestures after striking out during the fourth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
