NYC schools close for Muslim holiday; 1st time

NEW YORK (AP) — Public schools in New York City are closed to observe the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Thursday was the first time the schools serving 1.1 million pupils closed for a Muslim holiday. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this year that the city's public schools would observe the two Muslim holy days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Eid al-Adha is known as the Feast of the Sacrifice. It commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim — Abraham to Christians and Jews — to sacrifice his son.

New York City schools were closed Wednesday for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina attended a celebration of Eid-al-Adha on Thursday at the Children's Museum of Manhattan.

An exhibit on Muslim cultures will open at the museum in February 2016.