Happy Holidays from Turkey!
This week marks an important holiday here in Turkey. Eid al Adha, or Kurban Bayram, as it is referred to in Turkish, is a Muslim holiday being celebrated all over the world. The Muslim holy book, the Koran, tells the story of the prophet Ibrahim, (Abraham). According to the Koran, God told Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of Ibrahim’s faith. Ibrahim obeyed God and was just about to kill his son, when an angel stopped him, and pointed out a sheep that had been provided to take Ismail’s place. Muslims honor the memory of this incident every year during their “Sacrifice Holiday,” by sacrificing a sheep, goat, or bull.
Over the last couple of weeks, pens of sheep and goats have been set up all over our city.
There are also places for people to bring their knives to have them sharpened.
People here pick out the animal they wish to sacrifice ahead of time. The bigger the animal, the more expensive it is. The animal is then marked and set aside as sold, to be sacrificed on the day of the holiday.
In the time leading up to the holiday, stores have big sales and people buy new clothes, among other things, as part of their celebrations. There are also charitable drives, for people who cannot afford a sacrifice for themselves. Below is a banner advertising prices for animals to be purchased on behalf of those less fortunate both in country and out of country.
Some people sacrifice the animals themselves. One of our neighbors has sacrificed his sheep in the parking lot of the apartment complex next door for the last couple of years. Others hire a professional to do it for them. This is of course the safer option for those who do not have experience with handling the animals.
Once the animal has been sacrificed, the rest of the day is filled with parceling out and putting up the meat. Part of the requirement of celebrating this holiday is that a certain part of the meat be distributed to the poor. I have had many Turks tell me that the main point of the holiday in the first place is to be generous and to give to those who are in need.
There is a general feeling of festivity and celebration, and everyone is enjoying the time off. Over the next few days families will visit one another, host large meals, and travel for vacation. Perhaps hearing the phrase “Happy Holidays” in August seems strange to you, but for Muslims all over the world, this is a season of remembrance and celebration.
TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE WEST, KEEP LOOKING EAST!
Ginny Lou Henley
Ginny Lou is a co-founder of West2East. Originally from Alabama, Ginny Lou has called Turkey home for the past nine years. To read more about her, click here.