Eid al-Adha

[onlymark]

The last three days in Egypt have been a national holiday (and a holiday of the same sort in the rest of the Islamic world). It is called Eid al-Adha, or "Festival of Sacrifice". There are a number of holidays here called ‘Eid’ something or other but this one always causes me a unique problem which I shall mention later.
But why is this time a holiday?

Abraham, who is a common religious figure between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam had a son, Ishmael. When the son was about 13 years old, and Abraham was about 99 years old, Allah or God or whatever you want to call him decided to test the faith of father and son.
Through a series of dreams he urged Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice.
Abraham eventually agreed to do so but only if his son also consented. Ishmael was approached and agreed, thus both demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice what was most precious to them for the sake of Allah.

At the last moment, as the sacrificial knife was raised, Allah intervened. He told Abraham, that as his sincere intentions were proven, he would replace his son with a ram to sacrifice instead.
Each year from then a celebration occurred of this willingness to sacrifice all held dear for the love of Allah and on his command.
Nowadays it is normally a sheep that is killed but it can be a cow, camel or goat.
There are as expected various rules regarding the ceremony but the main one is that you should kill it yourself.
If you are unable to do so, you must be present when it is done for you (the option most pick).

The meat is divided into three parts - the family retains one third, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours, and the other third is given to the poor and destitute.
But what is my problem at this time of year?
My daughters (now 11 years old) love sheep. Shaun the Sheep cartoon etc. Several houses around me keep one in their garden for a week or so in preparation of the event. Many more are ‘corralled’ around the estate especially in the local shopping area and the noise fills the air of their bleating.

But at the time of the deed the bleats take on an ominous tone – as if they know.
Eventually all is quiet. But if you then go to the ‘souk’ or walk the streets the blood is still flowing (by the way, no drainage system on the streets, the rain (read blood at this time) just puddles at the lowest points).
It takes many days, if not weeks, for the rust colour to disperse. So my daughters, even though getting to be more and more pragmatic, tend to stay close to home, the computer and the television during this holiday.

But I must say the meat doesn’t taste too bad at all.

[Deleted]

My office in Paris closed at 2 pm for the Eid.

[onlymark]

Any excuse to get off work.

[bixaorellana]

Ah, those poor girls! Being the giant hypocrite that I am, I deal with that kind of reality by avoiding the animal parts of the markets if I can. Watching a pig dig in its heels and cry piteously as it's dragged to a pick-up truck is too much reminder than a sentient being is losing its life so I might have crackling, carnitas, etc.

Your girls are obviously sensitive. Start thinking about vegetarian recipes now, as they're nearing the age where they might eschew meat rather than eat any more murdered Shauns.

Oh yeah ~~ I didn't know the part about Ishmael being approached for his views. That part isn't in the old testament, is it?

[Deleted]

My Russian colleague, who was born in Marrakech and grew up in Casablanca was telling me what the Eid was like when he was a kid. They lived on the 7th and top floor of a building in the middle of downtown. The families would sacrifice their sheep on the landing in the stairwell of the building, so he has an indelible memory of walking up and down the stairs in a cascade of blood mixed with water.

But he said that what was even worse was the odour, because everybody would keep the entrails on the roof under the hot sun.

[onlymark]

Bixa, at the moment I'm the one in the house that eats the least meat and the girls eat more than me or my son or wife. I expect that at some stage they may try being vegetarian and I think everyone should at some time. But I don't expect they'll stick to it. Especially not if you saw the way they devoured the bacon sandwiches I made them with bacon I've just brought back from Spain.
As for the Old Testament, I'll take your word on that. I've never read any of the religious books or know much about it.

Kerouac, as you've seen in Cairo, most live in apartments. I do wonder how hey go on with doing the slaughter and stuff. Maybe the same.

[hwinpp]

They use cattle in Cambodia... because they don't have sheep

[bixaorellana]

Oh, that's interesting! Does that mean that sheep were never imported and that Cambodians never developed a taste for it? Or does it have to do with not having the right conditions for sheep?