Saudi Arabia confirms holiday dates for Eid Al-Adha 2022
Hello, long weekend…
Following the sighting of the crescent moon, it has been announced that the first day of the Eid Al-Adha celebration will begin on Saturday July 9, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported citing the Kingdom’s Supreme Court.
According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), the Eid Al-Adha holiday for the private and non-profit sectors in Saudi Arabia will last until Wednesday July 13. Work will therefore resume on Thursday July 14.
The five-day Muslim holiday of sacrifice falls during the lunar month of Dhu Al-Hijjah, which begins on June 30, marking the month when the Hajj pilgrimage takes place. Per the Supreme Court’s statement, Hajj will start on July 6 through July 10, with Arafat Day falling on July 8.
On the other hand, the public sector will have 11 days of holidays starting from July 3 to July 13.
What is Eid Al-Adha?
Muslims mark Eid Al-Adha by buying sheep and goats to slaughter and then distributing them to the needy. This annual ritual stems from the story of the prophet Abraham, commanded by God to slaughter his son Ismail as a test of his faith.
Prophet Ibrahim was willing to do what was asked of him, but at the last moment, God intervened, sending a sheep to take his son’s place. Eid Al-Adha is therefore known as the festival of sacrifice.
One of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which every Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime if they can.
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