New York City public schools are closed to observe the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha (eed ahl-AHD’-hah).

Thursday was the first time the schools serving 1.1 million pupils closed for a Muslim holiday. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this year that the city’s public schools would observe the two Muslim holy days of Eid al-Fitr (eed ahl-FIH’-tur) 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 Yom Kippur.

Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina (fah-REEN’-yah) 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.

Read the article “For First Time, New York City Schools Close for Muslim Holiday” on abcnews.go.com.