caption 1- Baghdad residents have taken advantage of a fall-off in violence to visit parks and mark Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice.

caption 2- Eid al-Adha, when families and friends come together for celebratory meals, marks Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God.

caption 3- The festival has given US troops a chance to show a different face.

caption 4- The recently opened Abu Nawas park in central Baghdad was also a popular destination.

caption 5- Men dance in al-Zawraa park in central Baghdad. A ceasefire by the Shia Mehdi Army and moves by Sunni tribesmen to oust al-Qaeda have helped reduce violence.

caption 6- Parents hope the lull in violence will last, though they know the attacks have by no means been halted.