An important festival for followers of Islam is coming up, one commemorating sacrifice and representing a time of prayer and gathering with family and friends.
The second major festival in Islam, Eid al-Adha, is expected to take place in June. Because Muslim holidays and festivals are dictated by the Islamic calendar, which is a 12-month lunar calendar in which each month begins when a new moon is sighted, Eid al-Adha falls on different dates on the Gregorian calendar each year.
Here’s what we know about when the festival is this year, what it celebrates and how Muslims honor the festival.
When is Eid al-Adha 2024?
While it can vary based on moon sightings in different parts of the world, this year Eid al-Adha is predicted to begin at sunset on June 16, 2024, according to Islamic Relief Worldwide.
The festival lasts for three days, so if it begins on June 16 it will end on June 19. While the two are not related, Eid al-Adha falls at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
What is Eid al-Adha?
The festival is meant to honor Prophet Ibrahim’s, or Abraham’s, willingness to sacrifice his son Isma’il, or Ishmael, when asked to do so by God, according to the Islamic Society of North America.
According to Islamic tradition, God provided a ram to sacrifice in place of Isma’il. This differs from the Judeo-Christian tradition which states that Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, rather than Ishmael.
How is Eid al-Adha celebrated?
Muslims begin Eid al-Adha with communal prayers, typically at their local mosque.
A central part of the festival is the sacrifice of an animal, representing Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, and to keep one-third for your family, one-third for relatives and friends and give one-third to those in need.
It’s also a time when Muslims gather with family and friends for special meal and the exchanging of gifts.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When is Eid al-Adha 2024? What to know about this year’s festival
