A Palestinian drags a sheep before slaughtering it on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, or the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice, on a hill overlooking Jerusalem's old city on. The festival commemorates the story of Abraham and his readiness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, who provided two lambs to be used instead.

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Millions of Muslims across the Middle East on Wednesday marked the first day of Eid al-Adha, the most important holiday in the Islamic calendar, with prayers, family reunions and traditional sweets for the occasion.

In Lebanon, where a yearlong political crisis took away much of the holiday cheer, the usually festive mood was subdued. It was a bleak holiday in the Palestinian territories, too, particularly in Gaza City where the holiday fell under the shadow of Hamas' violent takeover and the deepening international isolation that followed.

But in Iraq, some expressed a feeling of optimism after months of declining violence.

"This Eid differs from the previous ones, as we have received unexpected numbers of worshippers," Jamal al-Kubaisi, imam of Abu Hanifa, the biggest Sunni mosque in Baghdad, told The Associated Press.

More than 10,000 faithful showed at Abu Hanifa in the Sunni-dominated neighborhood of Azamiyah at sunrise to perform the first prayers for the holiday.

In Both Lebanon and Iraq, however, Sunni and Shiite Muslims disagreed on the start of the Eid, reflecting tensions between them. Shiites in Iraq will mark Eid today, while many Shiites in Lebanon will start the Eid on Friday.

The day is set by sighting of the moon, with Muslims traditionally following a lunar calendar for its holy days.

Thousands of worshippers prayed at mosques in the Lebanese capital Beirut and in towns and villages across the country — and almost all sermons centered on politics.

Lebanon has been without president since Nov. 23 when President Emile Lahoud stepped down without a successor. Nine attempts by the sharply divided parliament to elect a new president have failed because of a boycott by opposition lawmakers. The country is deeply split between the U.S.-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and the Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran.

Despite fears of a crisis, many Lebanese celebrated by taking their children out to play, followed by lunch with relatives and friends. Al-Adha this year falls only a few days before the Christmas holidays, making for an extended holiday during which many Lebanese expatriates chose to come to Lebanon to celebrate.