This week had led to a flurry of activity in markets all over Turkey. Cattle farmers are busy as communities gear themselves up for a four-day festival that will start on Sunday called Kurban bayrami. The cattle farmers will experience their busiest week of the year as all over the country, goats, sheep, and cows are sold to be sacrificed according to Islamic rules and traditions.
At the eid 2021 date I will dress in my oldest and drab clothes (bear with me- there is a reason why I am wearing old clothes), then head to friends and family to join in with this age-old religious tradition. My role in the celebration is simple.
I will stand and listen while a verse from the Quran is read. The throat of the sheep will then be slit and the blood drained into a hole in the ground. Once this has been done, I will join in with the others to clean and cut the animal up, hence why I am not dressed in my best gear.
عید قربان in Turkey is known as the Sacrifice holiday and is a major event in the Islamic calendar. The significance relates to the occasion in the Quran when Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son at the command of God. God interrupted the act and Abraham used a sheep instead however the celebration occurs to show the dedication of Abraham and his acknowledgment that God is everything.
If you find yourself in Turkey during عيد الأضحى, the chances are that you will not see the sacrifice of animals unless you head off to the rural areas. The only way it will affect you, is that travel on public transport will be hectic and most businesses will be closed. In the tourist areas, bars and restaurants will probably stay open.
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