The Sacrifice

Monday, December 8 was the first day of Bayram- the day of the sacrifice. I actually met a Fulbrighter at the Consul's home who is researching the sounds and smells of sacrifices during Roman times. I mentioned that they were perhaps similar to the sacrifices of the Jews. Her response, "Yes, they were similar to what the Jews were and are doing with sacrifices." I said - EXCUSE ME.... we are not sacrificing now. Oh, she said - you don't sacrifice the Pascal Lamb? Nope, I said - no temple - no sacrifice.
Hmmmm....seems like some "scholars" need to get out of their ivory towers sometimes and learn about something other than their narrow thesis!

I arrived at Halil's home at 10; the butcher was scheduled to arrive at 11. Some relatives arrived- the young kiss the elders' hand and then bring it up to touch their forehead. We were served raisins and nuts. I smiled and wished my Turkish was better.

The butcher arrived early, then the men went down below where the cow, donkey and sheep were stabled. I took pictures of them all pulling out the cow and tying its feet. I'll stop now with the description - I did not look. The grandmother was holding the little kids to the side. I wandered back into the yard - too much groaning of the cow and then a small red river flowed down the hill. The butcher and assistant were served a meal. It took about 2 hours for the family to cut up the meat- it then looked like a butcher shop. Up to 7 people can share a cow. Most people are sacrificing lambs. All over the country there were pens set up for people to select their animal. The US of A has XMAS tree stands on every corner, here they have tents with various livestock for your choosing.

The tradition is they donate a 1/3 of the meat to the poor. Later I learned that you can leave the skins by the curb for Turkish Airlines pick-up! They in turn sell the skins and donate the money to the poor. On TV the next day they showed various groups going to poor neighborhoods with coats for the kids and other donations. Children were also visiting nursing homes. My colleague said she was rather replused by the killing of animals so she asks her friends for donations and send the money to her cousin who is a teacher in the impoverhished east. He then purchased school supplies for the students.

While Halil and parents were cutting the meat, his friend and I walkd to town and saw the big rock. Now there are cute wine cafes in the caves. The town was pretty much shut down - as was much of the country. In the yard of Halil's home are caves that they use to store fruits, cheese and pickled veggies. His friend is in the cave storage business - lemons are stored in the caves and shipped all over the country. Halil would like to build a pension in the rock formations in his backyard, but he requires UNESCO approval.

They had gone to the mosque at 7:30 then had a festive breakfast. So at 12, he made just me lunch before we took off for the valley. His sister would come later and they would feast on the meat.

Halil picked up his friend for the ride which was just about an hour. On buses, I would have traveled 4 hours! My colleague Gurburt had lived in the region and had insisted that I spend a day in Guzelhurt and a day in the Ilhara Valley. So I was merely following instructions!