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Sheep: in their pre-sacrifice state
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If you are a foreigner lucky enough to be invited to visit
someone in their home in the Middle East, you may experience
a local custom that not many see. Flossie or Dolly fans, beware!
What Happens at the Lamb Sacrifice Festival
This custom is performed for a variety of life's accomplishments
- new home, new baby, graduation, returning from a long trip,
new car - whatever is worth celebrating! The idea of the custom
is protection for whatever life change has been made - and
preventing accidents related to the change.
"Dah-hah" or "lamb sacrifice" is literally
what it means. A local butcher comes to the home bearing a
lamb and either the butcher himself, or the mother of the
family cuts the throat on the front step. The doomed beast
must expire quickly and painlessly - with one cut to the throat
only. Any more is extremely haram, shameful and wrong - a
sin, even, and negates the good that would otherwise result
from this ritual. Blood is smeared on the front step and the
door and sometimes family members put bloody handprints on
the door and the surrounding area for good luck. In the US,
this might raise a few eyebrows, but in the Middle East, it's
an excuse for a party!
Let the Feasting Begin
After the slaughter on the front step, the lamb is barbequed
and turned into a feast for everyone. The distribution of
food is based on a principle of three. The first group is
the family, the second is the neighbours, and the third is
anyone who is less well off. In this way, no one goes hungry
in Arab countries - it is very haram to eat without making
sure your fellow countryman is not hungry. After the feast,
it's time for a party, with the usual array of music, dancing
and general merrymaking! |
