Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Christmas Kbir - A cultural melange

In preparation for Christmas, I will be killing a sheep. This week, Muslim’s all over the world celebrate L’Aid Kbir or The Big Feast or The Feast of the Sheep. Now, of course, all of us good Catholics will remember immediately that Abraham was ask by God to sacrifice his son for the remission of his sins. Having tested Abraham’s devotion and found him a true disciple, God gave him a sheep to sacrifice at the very moment he was prepared to kill his son. This story is in both the Bible and the Quran and is the basis for this Friday’s activities. Islam runs on a lunar calendar and therefore the religious holidays change each year. This, last month in the Islamic calendar, is “du l-Hijja” and, in addition to this annual sacrifice, is when people make the pilgrimage to Mecca. Our news broadcasts are littered with pictures of the sacred space jam-packed full of worshipers. It’s quite a sight.

As I understand it, the events of the next few days will go as follows:

First, we will fast for a couple days in preparation. This simply means not eating between sunrise and sunset. Everyone buys new cloths. Houses and bodies are cleansed and purified. The Hammam (public bath houses) will be jammed all week and almost every piece of furniture and blanket in the house will be hauled onto the roof for sun purification. My family has already bought their sheep and it is resting peacefully in the countryside, awaiting dooms day. On Friday it will be brought to the house (or many Thursday nights) and kept on the roof. Friday is when things get fuzzy. They (being the family) will doing the actual killing. As my family is wealthy, they have hired the butcher to come rip it apart. Other families do all the dirty work themselves. According to local custom, there is an order in which the animal parts are eaten. The first day is lungs, heart, and several other internal organs. Day two will be feet and head (yes, all of it – eyes, brain, et all) and then moving on to more basic cuts as the days progress. They are concerned about this reconciling with my vegetarianism…

In addition to all of this holiday cheer, I have been incessantly listening to my three Christmas CDs and am feeling very jolly. My wonderful community is exceedingly concerned with giving me a proper Christmas and has planned quite a feast (in addition to the sheep.) While the meal will be entirely untraditional, the volunteer from Berrchid (a thirty minute taxi ride from here) has been invited to come overstuff himself with me on the 24th in proper Christmas tradition. A local friend has even offered me a bottle of red wine for the occasion (remember, any alcohol is forbidden in Islam thus making this gift a real treat.) I am going to attempt a semblance of Christmas bakery but it will no doubt turn out looking Moroccan. It will taste great all the same.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Nicole! We're keeping you in our prayers. Salam! Erin & Ryan

Matt said...

Nicole-
I just "rediscovered" your blog a few minutes ago, and have been quite entertained reading up on your adventures thus far....I truly look forward to seeing new pictures, and now, reading updates from halfway across the globe. I hope this little note finds you well-you certainly sound the part-as if we had any doubt! Please know that we(mary-faith and I) often speak of you, and are thinking lots of you. Hope christmas was good, new year was better, and that you indeed found a way to spirit away that red wine, no pun intended.
Hassib,
Matt

Anonymous said...

Nicole, it sounds like you are adjusting well and that you are rather beloved among members of your community! I wouldn't expect anything else :)

We got your witty Christmas letter - thanks for thinking of us and for writing!

*Love and hugs*