Eid al-Adha

In Yemen, Eid al-Adha is a national holiday. It is the holiest day of the year for Muslims, and it is also a time when some Yemenis travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj Pilgrimage if they are financially and physically capable.

According to Koranic tradition, Eid al-Adha celebrates Ibrahim's giving of Ishmael to Allah. Allah, it is told, was pleased with Ibrahim's obedience, but spared Ishmael by supplying a goat to sacrifice in his place.

According to Muslim tradition, the real locations where the events of Eid al-Adha took place are in and around Mecca. On this day, however, most Muslims stay at home and sacrifice a sheep or goat. The meat is used to make a family feast, with a portion of it sent to the impoverished.

Many people also go to mosques or outdoor prayer sessions, pay visits to family and friends, exchange presents, and wish everyone a "Happy Eid!" Gifts and candy are frequently given to children.

When: 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar