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To celebrate the Feast of the Sacrifice, I went to Tangers. I made sure to be on the train (5 hour trip) on the morning of the feast to avoid certain elements of the festivities.Apparently everyone LOVES witnessing the slaughter. In the city, it either takes place on the roof or in the basement, or perhaps in a vacant lot, as shown below. Women come of the kitchen, and children gather around for the spectacle.
I arrived in Tangers around 1 pm, to see roving bands of men with bloody white aprons and big knives roaming the streets. They go door to door offering their services. Almost no cars were on the street, making the whole thing even more surreal, like a cross between a Sweeney Todd casting call and a new kind of Halloween tradition that has not been embraced in America.
My plan to avoid most of the killing worked well (after all, I saw Silence of the Lambs, I know I don't want to hear this), but I didn't anticipate how much blood and gore (and the lingering odor of barnyard) would be around into the next day. There was also the troubling question of what to do with unwanted sheep parts, especially the head.In short, I'm glad to have participated in the limited fashion that I did. But, I admit that as a vegetarian, I'm a little more predisposed to participate in the Feast of the Carrot or the Sacrifice of the String Bean...
2 comments:
We Call this a Diferent Colture, and you don't have to like it, but you are obliged to accept it, because this is the way they live, and no one told you go there? is like haloween or thanks givin many poor turkeys get killed, but no one say anything, so you don't have to critisize them, as it was you who visited them.
Thanks for this comment.
Criticizing and evoking a new experience are, for me, not one in the same. I'm sorry to have been perceived as critical or to have offended with this posting. These were most certainly not the intent.
My Moroccan friends know that I am both respectful and admiring of them and of their religion. It's the differences that make life beautiful and that make cross-cultural communication so worthwhile. As I mention, I'm glad to have (quite voluntarily) participated, and can't thank Fatima and her family enough for hosting me and letting me share their holiday with them.
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