August 21, 2018 declared a holiday to mark Eid’l Adha

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday declared August 21 a regular holiday to mark Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

Duterte issued Proclamation 556 in connection with the Muslim holiday, which coincides with another regular holiday commemorating the martyrdom of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in 1983.

Eid'l Adha celebrates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael in submission to Allah's command, before he was stopped by Allah.

It is one of two of the greatest most important holidays on the Muslim calendar, the other being Eid'l Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Eid'l Adha lasts four days and celebrates the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims around the world to Mecca.

During Eid'l Adha, halal animals—sheep, goats, cows, camels—are slaughtered for a feast. Traditionally the meat from the animal is divided into thirds: one third goes to the family, another third to relatives and friends, and one third to the poor and needy. — BM, GMA News