Global Arab Network | Algerians colouring sheep on Eid Al-Adha occasion

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Algerians colouring sheep on Eid Al-Adha occasion

Global Arab Network - - Rabih Serrai

Monday, 15 November 2010 19:43

Algeria (ALGIERS) - With the approaching onset of Eid Al-Adha, one of the Muslims' two great eids, Algerians have created a special celebratory atmosphere across the nation, such as colouring sheep, bought for the eid sacrificial ritual.

Some revelers, who have bought sheep for the sacrifice, have dyed the cattle with coloring materials or henna, the eastern traditional ingredient, used by many people for dying the hair or for some medical purposes.

Coloring the head of the cattle with henna is an old tradition that signals joy with the "arrival of this guest that would be the sacrifice of the eid," said Hajja Skeina in remarks to KUNA.

Sheep are adorned, on the happy occasion, with the henna on the limbs and the head, she added. Some women, particularly in the popular neighborhoods, color the animal for mere boasting within the close circle of the community.

Some sheep are painted with the colors of the national flag, green, white and red, and some with those of the national soccer team. Others are named after popular players and strikers.

As part of the eid activities, revelers cut the hair of the sheep in various styles.

Citizens, who favor more sensations, arrange a wrestling contest among the robust male sheep. A contest between two male sheep bearing long and sharp horns is usually violent and may turn bloody.

Karim, in his 20th, said he made a special cut for his sheep and adorned it with reddish henna, in the hope it will win a beauty contest among the live sacrificial sheep in the Maysonieh district, located in the heart of the city.

Passers-by like to take photos with this sheep, called "baby," because "I have been pampering it before slaughter!!," he said.

Karim collects pictures of the sheep he slaughter on the annual religious occasion.

Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) is an important Islamic religious festival that is observed by Muslims world-wide. In Algeria, a predominantly Muslim country, this festival is also referred to as Eid el-Kbir. This is one of the two Eid festivals that are celebrated by Muslims, the other being Eid ul-Fitr that marks the end of Ramadan.

Eid al-Adha is a commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail for Allah.

This four day event starts on the 10th day of the lunar Islamic calendar month of Dhul Hijja. While Eid al-Adha is always on the same Islamic calendar date, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies each year. This is because the Islamic calendar is lunar and about ten days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar. The beginning of Eid al-Adha is the day after the Muslim pilgrims descend from Mount Arafat at the end of Hajj. As the fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj is a pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, an obligation that every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so must fulfill.
(KUNA)

Global Arab Network

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