Festival of Sacrifice / Eid al-Adha in Ceuta

When is it celebrated

Eid al-Adha begins on the 10th day of dhu al-hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, coinciding with the final phase of the pilgrimage to Mecca. As the Islamic calendar is lunar, its Gregorian equivalence advances approximately ten or eleven days each year and can vary by one day depending on the criteria used to determine the beginning of the month. In Ceuta, the official work calendar for 2026 placed the Feast of the Sacrifice on Wednesday, 27 May; The date must be checked again for each year.

Is it a holiday or a working day?

In Ceuta it is a public holiday of the autonomous city when it is expressly incorporated into the annual calendar. The BOCCE and the state resolution on public holidays include 27 May as a Ceuta holiday in 2026, with a paid and non-recoverable nature. It is not, therefore, a general public holiday throughout Spain nor can it be considered a holiday in Ceuta for different years without consulting the corresponding official calendar.

Origin and geographical link

It is a religious solemnity of Islam celebrated by Muslim communities around the world, not a holiday that originated in Ceuta. Its Ceuta roots are related to the city's Muslim community and the institutional recognition of its cultural and religious diversity. The City integrates it into its own calendar and cooperates in the organisation of services so that the celebration can take place in authorized spaces.

Regular events

The day usually begins with a community prayer and continues with family gatherings, congratulations and shared meals. The ritual sacrifice of livestock, for families that practice it, must be carried out in authorized facilities and under sanitary control; Some of the meat is traditionally shared with family, friends and people in need. In Ceuta, transportation, cleaning, security, tents, water and other support are also being prepared for collective prayer and for the sacrifice points.

Usual duration of events

The public holiday corresponds to a single day, although family gatherings and operations linked to sacrifice can last longer. The specific duration depends on the programme and the health device of each edition: in 2026, for example, the City kept the special slaughterhouse operation active on 27 May, 28 and 29. This logistical expansion does not automatically convert all those days into public holidays.

Traditions and history

The festival remembers the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to obey God by sacrificing his son and ultimately replacing him with an animal. This is where both the name Festival of Sacrifice and the practice of sacrificing livestock among those who can do so come from. The religious sense is also expressed through prayer, generosity, fraternity and helping vulnerable people, values that Ceuta institutions highlight along with coexistence between communities.

Where is it celebrated

It is celebrated in homes, mosques and community spaces throughout Ceuta. The great collective prayer has been organised on the esplanade of Loma Margarita, while the places of sacrifice change with the annual device. In 2026, the municipal slaughterhouse and points in Benzú, Pozo Rayo, Loma Colmenar, Príncipe, Miramar Bajo and the Railway Station were used; It is advisable to consult each edition before going.

Who participates

Ceuta Muslim families and communities mainly participate. The Autonomous City and the Islamic Commission collaborate in the organisation of the prayer, with intervention from municipal areas of culture, urban services, transportation, security and civil protection. The sacrifice device also includes veterinary personnel, slaughterhouses, administrative personnel, legal services, collaborating companies and support brigades, while the entire citizenry shares the congratulations and the convivial nature of the day.