11.10.2011

L3id Kbir; Festival of Sheep Sacrifice

Washing sheep organs

Man walking in field
Rug making continues

Several people work on the rug

Playing soccer in the village

Happy colorful chicken

After rain on the trail

Making cookies for the festival

Baking

Cookies dipped in chocolate

Neighbor kids walking

Making bubbles

Donkeys are used to carry food

Giant squash

Atlas Mountains seen from my village

Henna for L3id

Getting the sheep ready for sacrifice

Posing for photos

The head is a delicacy

Monkey at Ouzoud

Waiting in tree

Meat being dried to eat

Ouzoud water falls

Henna for L3id

Playing mankala with stones and American tourist

Boat rides

Turkey in nearby village-photo by Angela

Host sister

Beautiful rainbow

Tourist spot at Ouzoud

Very pricey tajine lunches

We took a ride closer to the falls

L3id Kbir, "The Big Feast" is one of Morocco's biggest holidays. In Islam faith, the Quaran, the holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at the alter and is said at the last minute sees the appearance of a ram. For the feast, Moroccan's celebrate by coming together and consuming every part of the animal after it is sacrificed humanly. I spent three days with my family and visiting neighbors in the community partaking in tea and shish ca-bobs wrapped in stomach fat. As different and difficult as it was in viewing all that took place during those days, I managed to appreciate and even enjoy        all of the festivities. I imagine it will take time to process of all it's uniqueness and over time I will come to understand more of it's meaning. It was fun to bake cookies and take a family trip to waterfalls called Ousoud, a tourist place about an hour South outside my village. It was so beautiful there and I hope to return someday. It was a slow week here as families are visiting one another and school is not in session. As sheep will be eaten over the next several weeks, I am glad to be getting back home to my routine.










  

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