Kurban Bayram

Thursday started the four day Muslim holiday of Kurban Bayram (Feast of Sacrifice) here in Turkey, called Eid al-Adha in Arabic speaking countries.  Muslims worldwide celebrate Bayram as a remembrance of Abraham's obedience to God in his willingness to sacrifice his son; instead God provided a sacrificial ram as substitute.  Each year, Bayram takes place 2 months and 10 days after Ramadan, the 40 days of fasting.  Bayram also starts the following day after people have completed their pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

During the celebration of Bayram an emphasis is placed on spending time with family and friends.  Families will go to Mosques to pray together and attend special services.  If the family has the means, they will typically sacrifice an animal.  Families can choose how to distribute the meat, but traditionally, a third of the meat is kept by the family, a third is given to friends, and a third is distributed to the poor.

In Turkey they have designated certain places around the city where families can bring their animal to be sacrificed.  If families choose not to slaughter an animal, there are non-profits that they can donate money to instead.  The non-profit then purchases animals, slaughters them, packages the meat and then distributes it to impoverished people around the world.  (Today's Zaman article about non profits)