Anas reported that when the Prophet (PBUH) came to Madeenah, there were two days in which the people of Madeenah used to play during the time of ignorance. He told them: “You have two days in which you used to play, but Allaah has replaced them with something better than them: the Festival of Sacrifice (‘Eedul-Ad-haa) and the Festival of Breaking the Fast (‘Eedul-Fitr).”
Authenticated in Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa’ee, vol. 1, p. 341, no. 1465. Jaahileeyah literally means ‘the time of ignorance’ and refers to the period prior to the beginning of the final revelation. This hadeeth is evidence for the prohibition of all annual celebrations (birthdays, national days, pagan celebrations (i.e., New Year’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.), as well as so called ‘religious’ celebrations (i.e., Israa & Mi‘raaj Day, Battle of Badr, Hijrah, etc.).