Ge'ez CalendarWhat is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha (ዒድ አል-አድሐ), known in Ethiopia as Arafa (አረፋ), is the “feast of the sacrifice”. It honours the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and God’s provision of a ram in his place. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, at the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It is a public holiday in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
How the date is set
Like all Islamic holidays, Arafa follows the lunar calendar and comes about 11 days earlier each year. The dates on this page are from the Umm al-Qura calendar; the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council confirms the date by moon sighting, so it may be a day later than shown.
How Arafa is celebrated
- Eid prayer in the morning, at mosques and large open-air gatherings.
- Sacrifice. Families who can afford it slaughter a sheep, goat or ox. The meat is traditionally shared in three parts: for the family, for relatives and friends, and for people in need.
- Visits and meals. It is a time to visit relatives and neighbours, including Christian friends, and to share food.
Fasting before Arafa
Many Muslims fast on the Day of Arafah (9 Dhu al-Hijjah), the day before Eid, when pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafat near Mecca. It is from this day that the Ethiopian name of the holiday comes.