Eid al-Adha in Azerbaijan
Known in Azerbaijan as Qurban Bayramı, Eid al-Adha is a two-day public holiday under the country’s Labour Code. Its dates are set by the relevant authorities, and the holiday is marked in Azerbaijan with sacrifice, prayer, remembrance and charitable work.[1][2]
Legal status and dates
Azerbaijan’s Labour Code lists Eid al-Adha as a two-day holiday and a day off. Employees are not to work on days off except in circumstances allowed by the Code, so the holiday affects the ordinary work schedule.[1]
The relevant authorities determine and announce the dates by the end of December for the following year. If a weekly rest day coincides with a holiday, the rest day moves to the next working day; if Eid al-Adha overlaps another holiday that is a day off, the next working day is also designated a day off. Authorities may also adjust the sequence of working and rest days.[1]
Meaning in Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani Presidency describes Eid al-Adha as a celebration associated with mercy, solidarity and brotherhood. In the wider Islamic calendar, it falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the month named in the Hijri lunar calendar.[2]
The holiday’s public meaning in Azerbaijan includes religious observance and national remembrance. The Presidency describes it as a time for benevolent deeds and compassion, and says people pray for the country’s progress and prosperity and pay tribute to those who died for Azerbaijan’s independence and territorial integrity.[2]
How it is observed
The Presidency says sacrifices are made throughout the country in the name of Allah and that large-scale charitable work is carried out.[2]
Prayer is also part of the public observance described by the Presidency.[2]
Planning around the holiday
Because the dates follow the Hijri lunar calendar and are announced separately for each year, check the official calendar for the year of your visit rather than relying on a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar.[1][2]
The Labour Code establishes days off but does not specify opening hours for banks, shops or public transport. Check directly with the office, business or transport provider you plan to use, since the legal holiday status alone does not confirm how each service will operate.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Is Eid al-Adha a day off in Azerbaijan?
Yes. The Labour Code lists it as a two-day holiday and a day off, with work permitted only in exceptions provided by the Code.[1]
When are the dates announced?
Are banks, shops and transport open?
Check with each bank, shop or transport provider for its hours before travelling or making an appointment.
Sources and references
Sources used for Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) in Azerbaijan:
- Holidays- Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Holidays of the Republic of Azerbaijan- Official website of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan