What is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is the second of the two main Islamic festivals. 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 the son's place. Muslims overwhelmingly identify the son as Ismail. The festival coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, and the Day of Arafat, the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah and the central day of the pilgrimage, comes the day before. It is also called the Greater Eid (al-Eid al-Kabir), and Bakrid or Bakri Eid in South Asia.
The day 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 generally divided into three parts, one for the family, one for relatives and friends and one for the poor. Celebrations usually run for several days. In Turkey and the Balkans the festival is called Kurban Bayrami, the Feast of Sacrifice.
Why it is observed
The story of Ibrahim and his son is told in the Quran, and the festival is traced to the early years of Islam in the seventh century. Its date follows the Islamic calendar and the end of the Hajj: the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year, the festival moves back through the seasons, and the date in each country depends on moon sighting or calculation, so it can differ by a day between countries.
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 most Muslim-majority countries and, among others, in Turkey, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Turkey it lasts four days, preceded by a half-day on the eve (arife); in 2027 the eve is Saturday 15 May and the holiday runs 16 to 19 May. It is the longest official holiday of the Turkish year, with closed banks and offices, full intercity buses and flights, and high accommodation prices, so travel should be booked 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.
Sources
Albania
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Türkiye