Reporter's Notebook: In Islam, a day of joy and sacrifice

You might not feel the celebration of Eid ul-Adha here, but in Egypt, where I grew up, Eid ul-Adha is a big deal. In fact, it’s as big a deal as Christmas in America.

Eid ul-Adha, or “festival of sacrifice,” is a celebration that marks the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, known to Muslims as Hajj. Muslims from around the world end Hajj with communal prayers, festivities, money, gifts and distribution of meat to the needy. Eid celebration was held Friday morning at the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa and all mosques throughout Orange County and the world.

Each year, about 2 million Muslims visit Mecca for Hajj, which is the fifth pillar of Islam, something many Muslims aspire to do.

Hajj is the most important ritual of Islam, and it revolves around the Prophet Abraham, his wife, Hager, and son Ishmael’s challenges and sacrifices. Muslims are asked to perform Hajj if they are physically and financially capable.

This year, my mom, Shadia, whose first name is my last, was lucky enough to go to Hajj. She wanted to do this for so long, and this year she finally had the chance to do it, something I’m very happy about. She left to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 13 and will return Monday.

But I’m not done telling you about Eid ul-Adha yet, one of my happiest childhood memories. I remember vividly each year the night before Eid as I waited eagerly to wear my new clothes, shoes and handbag and play with my friends all day for four days in a row. Then in the morning, I woke up to the sound of Takberat, or chants, that I could hear from every direction and I knew that Eid was finally here. I also remember the time when my mom took me to buy new clothes for Eid.

When I think about it, I know I was a lucky kid, unlike many other children, who never had even half of what I had.

This brings me to some of the lessons learned from the Prophet Abraham and why we celebrate.