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.
Is Eid al-Adha a Public Holiday?
Eid al-Adha is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.
Eid al-Adha is a time for wishing one another well.
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 Pakistan, as well as Eastern European and African countries, 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. In New York City, the day is a holiday for public schools.
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.
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.
Year
Weekday
Date
Name
Holiday Type
2016
Tue
Sep 13
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2017
Sat
Sep 2
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2018
Wed
Aug 22
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2019
Sun
Aug 11
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2020
Fri
Jul 31
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2021
Tue
Jul 20
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2022
Sun
Jul 10
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2023
Thu
Jun 29
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2024
Mon
Jun 17
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2025
Sat
Jun 7
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
2026
Wed
May 27
Eid al-Adha
Muslim
We diligently research and continuously update our holiday dates and information. If you find a mistake, please let us know.