APTOPIX Mideast Bahrain Eid
A Bahraini fisherman points toward where a slim crescent moon should be visible to indicate the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in Malkiya v...
A Bahraini fisherman points toward where a slim crescent moon should be visible to indicate the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in Malkiya village, Bahrain, Sunday, July 27, 2014. Bahrain and several other Gulf countries announced Eid will begin on Monday. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
France Ramadan
A young boy stands as Muslims pray during the Eid al Fitr prayer marking the end of the Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Exhibition Center...
A young boy stands as Muslims pray during the Eid al Fitr prayer marking the end of the Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Exhibition Center of the Parc Chanot, in Marseille, southern France, Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
Spain Ramadan
Muslims celebrate after a prayer session marking Eid al-Fitr the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Mosque and Islamic Cultural Ce...
Muslims celebrate after a prayer session marking Eid al-Fitr the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center in Madrid, Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Mideast Yemen Eid
Yemeni worshippers attend Eid al-Fitr prayers that mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Phot...
Yemeni worshippers attend Eid al-Fitr prayers that mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)
Indonesia Ramadan
An Indonesian girl holds a balloon during Eid al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Parang Kusumo Beach in Yogyaka...
An Indonesian girl holds a balloon during Eid al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Parang Kusumo Beach in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
Portugal Ramadan
Muslim worshippers pray during the first day of the Eid al-Fitr, that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Lisbon's Martim Moniz squa...
Muslim worshippers pray during the first day of the Eid al-Fitr, that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Lisbon's Martim Moniz square, Monday, July 28, 2014. Muslims usually start the day with dawn prayers and visiting cemeteries to pay their respects to the dead, with children getting new clothes, toys, shoes and haircuts, and families visiting each other. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Kenya Ramadan
Hundreds of Kenyan Muslims gather and offer prayers in open ground during the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in coastal town Mombasa, Kenya ...
Hundreds of Kenyan Muslims gather and offer prayers in open ground during the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in coastal town Mombasa, Kenya on Monday, July 28, 2014. The Eid al-Fitr, one of the holiest religious practices, is celebrated with prayers and family reunions and other festivities among Muslims all over the world (AP Photo)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Millions of Muslims across the world are celebrating the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the monthlong fast of Ramadan.
Families dressed in their finest clothes and children carried their new toys as they headed to mosques early Monday morning to observe traditional Eid prayers.
But the mood was dark for millions of people affected by the Syrian civil war, the Gaza war and the militant advance in Iraq.
Muslims in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, across the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. are celebrating Eid Monday. Millions in India, Pakistan and Morocco are still fasting and will likely celebrate Eid on Tuesday.
Muslims use a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology that can lead to the month of fasting ending on different days.
