Bajram

If Thanksgiving weren’t already enough, Albanians celebrated Kurban Bajram (Eid al-Adha) the next day. Determined by the Muslim lunar calendar (whereas Gregorian calendars are solar), this year it fell before two other Albanian holidays (Albanian liberation and independence days, November 28 and November 29). Because it is based on the moon, the date of Bajram will continue to shift. It is just a coincidence that it fell in between all of these holidays but it will keep moving up in the future.

Eid al-Adha commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son, Is’haq. Abraham is an important figure not only in Christianity and Judaism but also in Islam.

From Wikipedia:
One of the main trials of Prophet Ibrahim's life was to face the command of Allah to devote his dearest possession, his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's's will. During this preparation, when Satan tempted Prophet Ibrahim and his family, Hajar and Ismael drove Satan away by throwing pebbles at him. To remember this rejection of Satan, stones are thrown during Hajj.

At the time of sacrifice, Ibrahim discovered a sheep died instead of Ismail, whom he hacked through neck. When Ibrahim was fully prepared to complete the sacrifice, Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. Ibrahim had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others: that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God. Muslims commemorate this superior act of sacrifice during Eid al-Adha.”

Typically, the best animals are to be slaughtered. This is also a time for Muslim charity where people make food donations so that the poor and hungry aren’t without food on this day. People visit their friends and family. My family served veal since we don’t own any livestock and spent many hours visiting family. The holiday also marks the end of Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that every able-bodied Muslim is required to do at least once.