Sunday, October 12, 2014

Kurban Bayramı

October 4th to 5th was Kurban Bayramı, the Feast of the Sacrifices, an Islamic holiday which honor's Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son to prove his faith. You can read more about the history and religious side of the holiday here. 
Mother's childhood home in Ortaklar
 
The day before Bayram we drove out to a small village outside of Aydın call Ortaklar to stay at my host mother’s childhood home during the holiday. After arriving in Ortaklar, we visited the cemetery to pay our respects to relatives. The quaint village life of Ortaklar was very different from the hustle and bustle of city life and the countryside was very relaxing. It reminded me a little of home since it seems like every farmer owns a Massey-Ferguson 240 tractor which is the same tractor I have. I love the smell of diesel fumes in the morning.
 
Ortaklar
 
Early on the first day of the holiday we had a sheep delivered to the house and was sacrificed. I will spare you the details but I will tell you that it was very gruesome to watch for the first time. After we sacrificed the sheep the work started. We skinned the sheep, butchered the meat, cleaned out the stomach to cook and skinned the head to boil. During the holiday I had some of the best food I’ve ever had as well as some of the worst like işkembe, which is basically boiled sheep stomach with absolutely no flavor to it. Thought the day children visited wishing a happy Bayram and we gave them candy and money in return.

Our sacrifice or kurban in Turkish


kurban eti (sacrifice meat)

On the second day of the holiday we visited friends and family and delivered meat to them. Every house we visited offered almost the same thing; a piece of candy or chocolate, kolonya (a lemon based hand cleanser) and some kind of dessert. Older family members usual gave money to children who kiss the hands of elders to show respect and I made a few lira by kissing a few hands.
 
Bayram money
 
I hope everyone had a great Bayram and to all the other YES student abroad I hope you had just as much of a good experience as I did. It seemed like everyone in Morocco had a great time from their sometimes very graphic pictures.   

Best,
Kyle

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