Eid al-Adha in the 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.

Is Eid al-Adha a Public Holiday?

Eid al-Adha is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday, August 11, 2019 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in the United States.

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 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.

About Eid al-Adha in other countries

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.