About 50 percent of Chad's residents are Muslim. On Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), an important Islamic holiday, Muslims remember Abraham's trials by sacrificing an animal, such as a goat or sheep. The meat from slaughtered animals is then distributed on the holiday or a short time afterward. Muslims gather with family, attend prayer service at a nearby mosque and exchange gifts. Eid ul-Adha normally takes place during the second half of November, as calculated by the Islamic lunar calendar. Eid ul-dha is a public holiday in Chad.
Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that takes place at the end of Ramadan. This three-day holiday marks the culmination of a month of fasting with prayers and ritual feasts. Charitable deeds are a part of the festivities. Gifts are sometimes given to children and close relatives. Banks, businesses and Chad's government offices are closed on this national holiday.
Chad was originally a French colony and part of French Equatorial Africa. At the end of World War II, France gradually allowed Chad the power to elect its own representatives. Nov. 28, 1960, Chad ceased to be controlled by the French and became a Republic. Chad's first president, N'Garta Francois Tombalbaye, led the Republic until he was overthrown in 1975. Republic Day is celebrated as a national holiday in Chad. Banks are closed and political gatherings mark the occasion.
Dec. 1, Chadians celebrate Freedom and Democracy Day. This national holiday commentates the day that President Idress Deby took power in 1990. Banks, government offices and the United States Embassy are closed on this festive holiday.
Approximately 30 percent of Chad's residents are Christian, and they celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, the same day as other Christians around the world. Homes and marketplaces are festooned with Christmas trees, mistletoe, holly and other traditional Christmas decorations. Chad's Christians give gifts to one another and the legendary figure of Santa Claus visits children. Many Chadians gather on beaches and in N'Djamena, the country's capital, to celebrate the holiday. Banks and government offices are closed throughout the country on Christmas Day.
