Sunday, October 5, 2014

Eid Sa3eed

October 4th is an eid for Muslims. It is a holiday that celebrates the fact that Abraham almost sacrificed his son or something. People do henna, trade gifts, pray, and most importantly, sacrifice animals.

People arrange for sheep or cows or other livestock to be bought to their home, where they slaughter them. Graphic details: skip to next paragraph if you don't like animal slaughtering. They begin by holding the sheep down, then they slit their throat. There's a lot of blood. And it's not that bad... until you realize it's still alive and moving around like it's having a seizure. Once it's dead, they cut a hole in its body and blow it up like a balloon. I don't remember why. Then they beat it, like a pinata. Again, I don't remember why. When they're done they cut the skin or fur or whatever off. Then they hang it, and cut open the stomach allowing the organs to fall out. It's pretty cool, honestly. I stopped watching after that.

The main thing to remember was that it was for God. So yeah that happened.

That morning I woke up at 5:30 in the morning, even though I didn't have school to go to eid prayer. While I was getting ready, I had to keep telling myself "Do it for the cultural experience. Cultural experience. Cultural experience." It was really early. I put on my nice conservative clothes and walked to the prayer. Never have I ever seen so many people do the same motions synchronized in my life. It was pretty cool and I'm glad I went.



Nadia and Corie after Eid prayer

After I went out with my friends. I haven't seen the streets empty like that, ever. It was really weird. We walked to a cheap restaurant and had sandwiches. I had tameah, basically fried beans, and batatas, potatoes. I had a sandwich that was french fries and ketchup in bread, why this concept hasn't reached America yet, I don't know but it was delicious.

Then we all sat around being tired until we decided to go home.

Then I went to the pyramids.


Byeeeeee

Corie.

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