Eid Al Adha
By: Marta Conoby, Rory Butler, and Lillia Greige
Date
Begins: evening of Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Ends: evening of Thursday, September 24, 2015
Rituals and Customs
The festival is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhuj Hijja, the Islamic month of the lunar Islamic calendar. On the morning of Eid Al Adha, the people wake up early to clean themselves then dress in their most beautiful and finest clothes and proceed to the mosque to give their eid prayers. After giving their prayers the people return home and eat a big breakfast consisting of sheer kurma or sevaiyan. After the sacrifice, luxurious and scrumptious dishes are cooked and served to guests and family visiting homes. They are accompanied by delicious desserts and beverages prepared for the day.
After breakfast muslims will slaughter an animal considered as Halal as an acceptable sacrifice. The sacrificed animal could be a goat, sheep, ram, lamb, cow, camel or any four legged animal and this is called qurbani. After the animal is slaughtered, the meat is divided into three equal parts as per the customs. The first part is eaten by the family while the second portion is distributed to neighbors, friends, and relatives then the third portion is given to the poor and deprived people.
History
Eid Al Adha translates to “The feast Of The Sacrifice”. However the story of this holiday is that Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his son (Ishmael) to show his loyalty. Right before Abraham was going to do it, (Cutting Ismael’s throat.) Angel Gabriel sent from God stopped him. She gave him a ram to sacrifice. This is what is remembered on this holiday for the Muslims. People feast to honor the willingness Abraham showed to God of following out with sacrificing his son, even though God stopped him.
Did you know?
Sacrifice
On Eid Al Adha, people sacrifice
goat as a way to reenact the sacrifice that was
to be Ishmael if it wasn’t for the angel giving Abraham the
goat to sacrifice instead. The man above is taking a goat to sacrifice. Later the goat will be distributed to family, friends, and the needy.Feast
The Hajj
Works Cited
"Bakra Eid Traditions." - Eid Al-Adha Rituals, Customs Of Bakra Eid. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://festivals.iloveindia.com/bakra-eid/bakra-eid-traditions.html>.
"Eid Al-Adha: Festival of the Sacrifice." Eid Al-Adha. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/holidays/adha.htm>.
"Eid-Al-Adha." Eid-Al-Adha. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/holidays/eidaladha.htm>.
"Eid-Ul-Adha Traditions And Rituals." Eid-Ul-Adha Traditions And Rituals. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.theeid.com/eiduladha-traditions-and-rituals/>.
Gulevich, Tanya. Understanding Islam and Muslim Traditions: An Introduction to the Religious Practices, Celebrations, Festivals, Observances, Beliefs, Folklore, Customs, and Calendar System of the World's Muslim Communities, including an Overview of Islamic History and Geography. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2004. Print.