Eid-al-Adha in United States

Many Muslims in the United States observe Eid-al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, each year. This festival commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son to God. This festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Eid al-Adha is a time for wishing one another well.

©iStockphoto.com/Aman Khan

What do people do?

Many Muslims in the United States celebrate Eid al-Adha with prayers and social gatherings. The Eid al-Adha services can attract thousands of Muslims in various places such as Chicago (Illinois) and Orlando (Florida). Many Muslims of many heritages, including North Africa, Pakistan, Eastern Europe, wear traditional clothes and share their national dishes. It is a time for prayer, sharing meals, handing out gifts and wishing one another well.  

Eid al-Adha follows from the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, in which Muslims are required to make at least once in their lives. Eid al-Adha is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice because it traditionally includes the sacrifice of an animal permitted for food (eg. a lamb) as an act of thanksgiving for God’s mercy. Some Muslims seek out a farm where they can carry out the sacrifice, but many also send money to their native lands to help fund a sacrifice. Eid al-Adha lasts for up to three days and is a time to seek mercy from God.

Public life

Eid al-Adha is not a federal public holiday in the United States. However, some Islamic organizations may be closed or offer a reduced level of service and there may be some local traffic congestion around mosques.

Background

Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice or Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates accomplishment.  Eid al-Adha also serves as a reminder of when Ibrahim (Abraham) was willing to sacrifice his son to God, according to Islamic belief. The United States government issued postage stamps to commemorate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in previous years. These stamps aimed to highlight the business, educational and social contributions that Muslims made in the United States.

About Eid-al-Adha in other countries

Eid-al-Adha Observances

Related holiday

• Eid-al-Fitr ―Thursday, August 8, 2013

Other holidays in October 2013 in United States

• International Day of Older Persons ―Tuesday, October 1, 2013
• International Day of Non-Violence ―Wednesday, October 2, 2013
• Feast of St Francis of Assisi ―Friday, October 4, 2013
• World Teachers' Day ―Saturday, October 5, 2013
• Child Health Day ―Monday, October 7, 2013
• World Habitat Day ―Monday, October 7, 2013
• International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction ―Wednesday, October 9, 2013
• World Post Day ―Wednesday, October 9, 2013
• Leif Erikson Day ―Wednesday, October 9, 2013
• World Mental Health Day ―Thursday, October 10, 2013
• World Sight Day ―Thursday, October 10, 2013
• International Day of the Girl Child ―Friday, October 11, 2013
• Indigenous People's Day ―Monday, October 14, 2013
• Columbus Day ―Monday, October 14, 2013
• Native Americans' Day ―Monday, October 14, 2013
• International Day of Rural Women ―Tuesday, October 15, 2013
• White Cane Safety Day ―Tuesday, October 15, 2013
• World Food Day ―Wednesday, October 16, 2013
• Boss's Day ―Wednesday, October 16, 2013
• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty ―Thursday, October 17, 2013
• Alaska Day ―Friday, October 18, 2013
• World Development Information Day ―Thursday, October 24, 2013
• United Nations Day ―Thursday, October 24, 2013
• Nevada Day ―Friday, October 25, 2013
• World Day for Audiovisual Heritage ―Sunday, October 27, 2013
• World Stroke Day ―Tuesday, October 29, 2013
• Halloween ―Thursday, October 31, 2013