Kurban Bayram (Feast of Sacrifice)Κουρμπάν Μπαϊράμ

Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) is the major Muslim Feast of Sacrifice celebrated by the Ottoman-descended Muslim minority of Western Thrace, particularly in Xanthi 1. On this day the community gathers for a special Eid prayer at the Mufti’s office (Mouftiate) and mosques, followed by festive meals among families. Locals (Muslim and some Christian neighbors) greet each other with solidarity, reflecting a centuries-old tradition of coexistence. The holiday provides deep cultural insight into Thrace’s multicultural heritage and is key to the local Islamic identity.

ObsERVED according to the Hijri (lunar) calendar, Kurban Bayram has exact dates shifting about 11 days earlier each year. In Xanthi, the Mufti (religious authority) organizes the official celebrations at the Muftiate office and local mosques 1. The event includes the Eid al-Adha prayer and the symbolic sacrifice, after which meat is shared with the needy, embodying themes of charity and community solidarity. In secular terms, the public aspect (including greetings by non-Muslims) demonstrates Western Thrace’s long history of religious plurality.