Eid al-Adha in Egypt (2020)

Eid al-Adha – عيد الاضحى

Eid al-Adha means “the Festival of the Sacrifice.”

This is the biggest (of two) festivals in the Islamic year, and just took place this last weekend. It is a three-day celebration at the end of the Hajj, which is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims all across the globe. (Coronavirus, of course, made this year a little different.)

The event honors the trial of the Prophet Ibrahim when he was asked by Allah (God) to kill his son (there are different stories on which son this was).

After hearing this, Ibrahim immediately prepared himself to do what Allah had demanded. Just when he was about to complete the sacrifice, Allah revealed that the sacrifice had already been given by Ibrahim’s faith (since he had been wiling to kill his own son when commanded).

Allah then commanded Muslims to sacrifice sheep, camels and goats (The Sacrifice –  الاضحية) to honor this willingness by Ibrahim. The meat would then be distributed to family and others in need.

The Sacrifice –  الاضحية

Sheep – خروف

Eid al-Adha stresses the value of helping and sharing with those who are in need, as one of the main values of Islam.

Eid Al-Adha Special Meal

Like any other festival or special day, Eid al-Adha in Egypt is celebrated with a special meal.

This meal is all about meat (beef or lamb). On the first day of Eid al-Adha, Egyptians eat meat for breakfast together with Fattah, which is rice with tomato sauce and small bread chips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi7MX6gM0Ko

The First Day of Eid al-Adha

On the first day around 6 in the morning, most people gather in big mosques for the Al Adha prayer together.

After the prayer, those who have bought an animal (for sacrifice) gather in special halls or dedicated spaces. These are the places where animals get slaughtered and distributed. Some others do it in front of their homes (you can imagine the smell of the whole city during these days).

It’s always exciting (or at least interesting) for kids and the whole neighbourhood to watch the process.

After the sacrifice and hosing down of the streets, men go back home with their portions to a family breakfast that has already been prepared (usually by women).

This year the Eid prayer was cancelled in mosques due to COVID-19, so people privately sacrificed their animals throughout the day in whatever suitable place they could find.

Unlike the smaller Eid after Ramadan (Eid Al Fetr), kids don’t expect Eidya on Eid al-Adha (Eid Money). However, children do often receive gifts and new clothes.

Eid Al-Adha in Egypt is almost a one week long vacation, and like all religious and social festivals, it is a time of family reunion, wearing new clothes and helping others.

Families spend most of their time during Eid Al-Adha visiting and presenting meat to each other. In Egypt, as in many Muslim countries, Eid Al-Adha is a time of great appreciation for God’s mercy. Muslim, Christian and all other members of the community share equally in the festivities that overtake the neighborhood.