Eids or Festivals are moments of celebration common to all nations.  The festivals of non-believing nations are associated with worldly matters such as the birth of a nation or its decline, the appointment or crowning of a ruler, his marriage, or the beginning of a season like spring, and so on. As to Muslims, their festivals (Eids) are associated with their religious rituals.  They have only two festivals or Eids:  

Eid Al-Fitr (Celebration of the end of Ramadan) and Eid Al Adha (festival of sacrifice).  When the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, came to Medina and found the people celebrating two days he said:  “ What are these occasions”?  They said: “We used to celebrate them in Jahilya (before the coming of Islam)”.  He then said : “Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, has replaced them for you with the two better days (i.e. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha)”.  These two festivals which Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala, prescribed to the Muslims are part of the rituals of Islam which should be commemorated and the purposes of which should be understood.  

Rules Pertaining to Eid:  

1-It is forbidden to fast on the day of both Eids, as it is understood from the hadeeth narrated by Abee Sa’eed that the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, forbade the fasting of the two Eids.

2-It is recommended that both men and women observe Eid prayer in an open field as is clear in the hadeeth narrated by Um Atiya, may Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, be pleased with her, who said:  “We used to be ordered to come out on the day of Eid and even to bring the virgin girls from their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind the men and say takbir along with them and hope for the blessings of that day for purification from sins”.  Since menstruating women as well as those who are virgin are commanded to observe Eid prayer, there is no doubt that the men, old and young are even strongly commanded to observe it.

3-Eid prayer should be performed before the khutba of Eid as is confirmed in the hadeeth narrated by Ibn Amr, Abee Sa’eed, and Ibn Abbas, may Allah, Subhana wa Ta’ala, be pleased with them.

4-It is recommended that the Imaam makes Takbeer (Allah-u-Akbar) during the prayer, seven times in the first Raka’at and five in the second.  This has been confirmed by the companions of the Salaf (the righteous generation of the predecessors).

5-It is recommended that the Imaam recites in the first Raka’at Surah Al-A’laa (ch.87) and Surah Al Ghaashiah (ch.88) in the second.  Other reports also show that the Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wa salam, used to recite Surat Qaaf (ch.50) and Surat Al-Qamar (ch.54) as is confirmed in Sahih Muslim.

6-There is no Sunnah prayer either before or after Eid prayer as Ibn Abbas, may Allah, Subhanwa wa Ta’ala, be pleased with him, narrated that whenever the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi wa salam, went for Eid prayer, he used to pray two Raka’ats (of Eid) but nothing before or after them .