What is happening? 

Eid al-Adha is being celebrated by Muslims across the world. It starts today and will go on for the next four days. 

What is Eid al-Adha? 

Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of the Sacrifice, is the Islamic celebration of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. The story is similiar to the biblical story of Abraham being prepared to offer Isaac. In both the biblical and the Qu'ranic account, God stops Abraham / Ibrahim and provides a ram to kill instead. However in the Qu'ran, the son is Ishmael, not Isaac, as Muslims believe Ishmael is the son of promise.  

Eid al-Adha marks the end of Hajj which is the Islamic annual pilgrimage where millions of Muslims travel to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars, or key tenets, of Islam involves five days of praying in Mecca and the surrounding desert. Pilgrims retrace the path of the Prophet Muhammed and recommit themselves to Allah. 

Hang on, hasn't there already been an Eid this year? 

Yes, there are two Eids; Eid al-Adha which is happening today and Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is another celebration which marks the end of Ramadam, the Islamic month of fasting. 

Eid al-Fitr happened in July this year. 

What happens at Eid al-Adha? 

Traditionally Muslims will sacrifice cows, lambs, goats or other animals and share the meat. A third is eaten among the family, a third is given to friends and a third given to the poor. Today many Muslims donate to charity instead and the meat is often bought rather than sacrificed. 

When does it start?

Islamic festivals are based on the lunar calendar so they happen at a different time each year in the Gregorian calendar (the de facto calendar used throughout the world).