Children at the Iqra School in Littlemore tuck in to celebrate Eid ul-Adha
While hundreds of thousands of people across Oxfordshire celebrated Christmas in traditional style, many others have been spending the festive season rather differently.
Thousands of Muslims across the county have been marking the holiday in their own way, celebrating one of the Islamic calendar's biggest events, Eid ul-Adha.
Not to be confused with Eid ul-Fidr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, the religious festival is a commemoration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for Allah.
Among those marking the occasion were the 300 pupils and staff at Oxfordshire's only Muslim school, The Iqra School in Littlemore, Oxford.
Chairman of trustees Dr Hojjat Ramzy said: "Everybody gathers for their prayers, then there is a big celebration with food and sweets and the children play. After that, when the party is finished, they go to each other's houses. They wear their best clothes and enjoy themselves.
"We all give each other a gift and it is a very, very happy time."
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According to the Qu'ran, Allah gave Abraham a lamb to sacrifice instead, so many Muslims enjoy a feast of lamb during the four-day festival, which finished on Saturday. A large portion of the meat is given to those who are poor or hungry.
Dr Ramzy, who lives in St Omer Road and has five children aged between six and 18, said Christmas was still a special time for Muslims.
He said: "We all celebrate the birth of Jesus and pray for him.
"We know him as a great prophet, and I am always saying I would like to see more Christmas trees and Christmas lighting.
"On Christmas Day, the whole of the country closes down so many people will go to their mosque or spend time with their families, and maybe have a picnic."
Dr Ramzy's wife, Maryam, was born Christian but converted to Islam when they married. The family planned to spend Christmas Day with her parents, who celebrated the day in typical English fashion.
He said: "We will have Christmas dinner, but they make it in a special halal way."
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