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Eid-al-Adha in United States

Quick Facts

Eid-al-Adha is an Islamic festival to mark Ibrahim's willingness to follow Allah's command to sacrifice his son. It is celebrated around the 10th to 13th days of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Local names

NameLanguage
Eid-al-AdhaEnglish
Eid-al-AdhaSpanish

Eid-al-Adha 2012

Friday, October 26, 2012

Eid-al-Adha 2013

Tuesday, October 15, 2013
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.
List of dates for other years

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.

hands showing their power of unity

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

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.
WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday typeWhere it is observed
MonOct 201980Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
FriOct 91981Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
WedSep 291982Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SunSep 181983Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
ThuSep 61984Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
TueAug 271985Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SatAug 161986Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
ThuAug 61987Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
MonJul 251988Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
FriJul 141989Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
WedJul 41990Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SunJun 231991Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
ThuJun 111992Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
TueJun 11993Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SatMay 211994Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
WedMay 101995Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
MonApr 291996Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
FriApr 181997Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
WedApr 81998Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SunMar 281999Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
ThuMar 162000Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
TueMar 62001Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SatFeb 232002Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
WedFeb 122003Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
MonFeb 22004Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
FriJan 212005Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
TueJan 102006Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SunDec 312006Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
ThuDec 202007Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
TueDec 92008Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SatNov 282009Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
WedNov 172010Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
MonNov 72011Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
FriOct 262012Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
TueOct 152013Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
SunOct 52014Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 
ThuSep 242015Eid-al-AdhaMuslim 

Related holiday

Other holidays in October 2012 in United States

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