Eid al-Adha(عيد الأضحى) in 🇪🇬 Egypt

Eid al-Adha in Egypt, known as Eid el-Kebir or the Big Eid, is one of the most anticipated celebrations in the Egyptian calendar. The four-day holiday begins with the Eid prayer at mosques and open grounds, followed by the ritual sacrifice of sheep, goats, or cattle. In Cairo's neighborhoods, the sacrifice often takes place in streets and courtyards, a sight and sound that permeates the city.

Egyptian families take the sacrifice tradition seriously, often saving for months to purchase their animal. The meat is divided according to Islamic tradition, with a significant portion given to the poor. Community organizations and charitable societies coordinate large-scale distributions to orphanages, hospitals, and impoverished neighborhoods.

The traditional Egyptian Eid feast features the freshly sacrificed meat prepared as fattah, a hearty dish of rice, bread, and meat in a vinegar-garlic sauce, considered the national dish of Eid al-Adha. Grilled kofta, kebab, and liver sandwiches are also staples. Families gather on rooftops and in parks, and the smell of grilling meat fills the air across Egyptian cities.

Children receive new clothes and Eidiyah, and amusement parks and recreational areas bustle with families. The Nile corniche in Cairo and Alexandria's seafront promenade are packed with celebrating families. Many Egyptians travel to their home villages, causing a mass migration similar to Eid al-Fitr.

One of the two holiest Islamic festivals, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as commanded by God, marked by animal sacrifice, communal prayers, and sharing meat with the poor.