BIG EID

Well, this is my second reporting of Eid within the last 1 month and 10 days. I asked about the significance of this Eid and was much surprised by the significance of this four day celebration. It is a celebration of God's test of faith of Abraham.

Background, Gail's version, from the Old Testament (Christian Bible). Abraham and Sara had a a child named Isaac very late in their lives, a true blessing from God. One day when Isaac was still a lad, God ordered Abraham to build a sacrificial alter and sacrifice Isaac to Him, the almighty God. Abraham, while heartbroken (I can't even imagine the state of Sara), dutifully obeyed God's wish building an alter and prepared to sacrifice his much beloved and only child. Just before Abraham sacrificed Isaac, an angel came down and stopped him telling him God was only testing his faith and he had obviously passed. In response, Abraham with great joy sacrificed a young cow and I believe a lamb in honor of his God. Sorry if this is not totally accurate... you get the point though.

So, Big Eid is a Muslim celebration which honors Abraham's great faith to his God and God's favor upon Abraham by saving Isaac. To celebrate, every family slaughters an animal (usually a lamb/sheep), keeps 1/3 for the immediate family, presents 1/3 to friends/family, and provides 1/3 to the poor. Now, why this takes 4 days is beyond me and of course the holiday starts on a Monday which means four days later is Friday, their standard day off.

As for me, the Ministry is closed down for five days and I'm stuck on the international military installation. Today, Monday, I went and got a pedicure and eyebrow job... not that horrible torture string but they're not into the hot wax so pretty much just plucked the heck out of me. Yes, I also worked catching up on many of my flagrant administrative oversights and started a significant project for presentation to my Director when he returns from holiday... only 3 more days to go.