Eid al Adha in Palestine: Traditions and Celebrations

June 28 marks the start of Eid al Adha in Palestine this year! This is one of the most important Islamic holidays, lasting around 3-4 days, and is usually celebrated with feasts, prayer, and charity. This holiday is well-celebrated in Palestine, with families gathering for special meals and, in some cases, visiting their relatives’ gravesites.

Eid al Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates when God commanded Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son Ismail to show his devotion and obedience. But before Abraham could follow through with the command, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead. This story became an important lesson for faith and devotion to God.

This day also falls on the 10^th day of the month Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic Lunar Calendar. This marks the end of the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam! So with the history and significance of the holiday, celebrating Eid al Adha for Muslims is great a reminder to remain hopeful and trust in God even when life becomes hard.

While many celebrate across the globe, we want to tell you about how Muslims commemorate Eid in Palestine!

Many gather all across Palestine for prayer, with Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem being one of the more popular destinations. Last year, more than 150,000 people attended Eid al Adha prayer there! 

Because of this holiday’s history of sacrifice, it is tradition to make a red meat sacrifice.

This meat is divided three ways, with a third going to the immediate family, a third going to extended family and friends, and a third going to those in need. Charity is a very important part of Eid al Adha!

And of course, this means a feast! Because of this red meat, there are a number of savory dishes on the table. As always, sweets like ma’moul are there to be shared too. 

For many Palestinians, Eid al Adha also marks a time to pay their respects at the gravesites of past relatives. This is a common event usually on the first day of Eid.

With these traditions and histories, we hope you learned something new about one of the most important holidays in Islam. Eid Mubarak!