Eid-al-Adha in United Kingdom
Quick Facts
Eid-al-Adha is an Islamic festival to remember Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son to God. It is observed around the 10th to the 13th days of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah.Name
Eid-al-AdhaEid-al-Adha 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009Eid-al-Adha 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.
See list of observations below
Many Muslims make a special effort to wear new clothes or their nicest outfits on Eid al-Adha. ©iStockphoto.com/Ashwin Kharidehal Abhirama
What do people do?
Many Muslims make a special effort to wear new clothes or their nicest outfits, attend a prayer service at a mosque and to listen to a sermon. They also personally greet or send paper or electronic Eid cards to family members, friends and business associates and give gifts to children.
Initiatives to improve the quality of life or opportunities in Muslim communities around the United Kingdom may be launched at Eid-al-Adha. Some mosques also hold study days or lectures on aspects of Islam and Islamic history.
Some Muslims arrange to sacrifice or slaughter a cow, goat or sheep. The law in the United Kingdom only allows this in an official slaughterhouse. The meat is divided between family, friends and the poor. Other Muslims give money to charity to help poorer families and eat a meat based meal. Mosques or other groups may arrange communal meals.
Public life
Eid-al-Adha is not a bank holiday in the UK. Mosques are likely to be busy and this may lead to some traffic congestion. Some Muslims choose to take one or more days of annual leave at this time.
Background
Eid-al-Adha honors Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael when God ordered him to do this. However, just as Ibrahim was about to kill Ishmael, God put a sheep in his place. Some people dispute that the son of sacrifice was Isaac (Isḥāq). Regardless, these events are remembered and celebrated at Eid al-Adha.
Muslims celebrate Ibrahim's complete obedience to the will of God during Eid-al-Adha. They remind themselves of their own willingness to sacrifice anything to follow God's commands. It also marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
About Eid-al-Adha in other countries
Read more about Eid-al-Adha.Eid-al-Adha Observances
Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Oct 20 | 1980 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Fri | Oct 9 | 1981 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Wed | Sep 29 | 1982 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sun | Sep 18 | 1983 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Thu | Sep 6 | 1984 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Tue | Aug 27 | 1985 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sat | Aug 16 | 1986 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Thu | Aug 6 | 1987 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Mon | Jul 25 | 1988 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Fri | Jul 14 | 1989 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Wed | Jul 4 | 1990 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sun | Jun 23 | 1991 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jun 11 | 1992 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Tue | Jun 1 | 1993 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sat | May 21 | 1994 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Wed | May 10 | 1995 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Mon | Apr 29 | 1996 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Fri | Apr 18 | 1997 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Wed | Apr 8 | 1998 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sun | Mar 28 | 1999 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Thu | Mar 16 | 2000 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Tue | Mar 6 | 2001 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sat | Feb 23 | 2002 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Wed | Feb 12 | 2003 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Mon | Feb 2 | 2004 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Fri | Jan 21 | 2005 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Tue | Jan 10 | 2006 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sun | Dec 31 | 2006 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Thu | Dec 20 | 2007 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Tue | Dec 9 | 2008 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sat | Nov 28 | 2009 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Wed | Nov 17 | 2010 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Mon | Nov 7 | 2011 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Fri | Oct 26 | 2012 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Tue | Oct 15 | 2013 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Sun | Oct 5 | 2014 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim | |
| Thu | Sep 24 | 2015 | Eid-al-Adha | Muslim |
Related holiday
- Eid-al-Fitr–Monday, September 21, 2009
Other holidays in November 2009 in United Kingdom
- All Saints' Day (Sunday, November 1, 2009)
- All Souls' Day (Monday, November 2, 2009)
- Guy Fawkes Day (Thursday, November 5, 2009)
- First Sunday of Advent (Sunday, November 29, 2009)
- St Andrew's Day (Monday, November 30, 2009)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
