Eid al-Adha 2024

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is the second of the two major Islamic festivals and the more important in many traditions. It commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim, known in the Bible as Abraham, to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, who then provided a ram in its place. In Islamic tradition the son is generally understood to be Ismail. The festival is the culmination of the Hajj season. The word Adha comes from an Arabic term for sacrifice or slaughter. The festival is also known as the Greater Eid, because it lasts longer than Eid al-Fitr in most countries, and it is also called Bakrid in South Asia. It is the culmination of the pilgrimage season, which brings together millions of people in and around Mecca, and Muslims around the world follow it through broadcasts.

The festival coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It opens with a congregational prayer in the morning, followed by the sacrifice of an animal, such as a sheep, goat, cow or camel, by those who can afford it. The meat is divided into three parts, one for the family, one for relatives and friends and one for the poor. In Turkey and the Balkans the festival is called Kurban Bayramı, the Feast of Sacrifice. Poorer families are given meat so that all can take part in the meal.

Why it is observed

The story of Ibrahim and his son is told in the Quran, and the festival dates from the early years of Islam, in the seventh century. Its date follows the Islamic calendar and the end of the Hajj, with the Day of Arafat on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the most important day of the pilgrimage. Because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year, the festival moves through the seasons, and the date in each country depends on moon sighting or calculation. The Eid prayer is held on the first day.

How the date is set

Eid al-Adha falls on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, about 70 days after Eid al-Fitr. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, the date moves earlier by about 10 to 11 days each year in the civil calendar.

How it is observed

Eid al-Adha is a public holiday in Turkey, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina among the countries on this site. In Turkey it lasts four days, with the eve as a half-day, and is the longest holiday of the year, which means closed banks and offices, full intercity buses and flights, and high accommodation prices. Visitors should book travel early. Dates are confirmed only shortly before, so forecasts can shift by a day. Pay and time off depend on the country and the contract. Check the national religious authority for the date.