Mbruk L'Eid

I survived my first Eid L'Kbir. This is a good thing. Since one of the families living on my compound is fighting with the other ones, I also only had to watch 4 sheep get slaughtered, rather than 5. I am currently finishing up reading The Omnivores Dilemma, so it was a very appropriate time for me to witness the killing of animals that I will eat. Just a couple hours after the event, we ate liver kebabs. Later on, some assorted other innards, not really sure what, exactly. I think I identified stomach. Unfortunately, I informed my family that the rule in my house growing up was that you were not allowed to say you didn't like something before trying it, thereby signing myself up for eating sheep head.

Apart from the sheep part, it was really not too diffferent from an American family holiday. We all ate breakfast together in the morning. Then the men got together to take care of the animals, comparable to a father carving the turkey, perhaps; the mothers brought the water up to the roof and brought the edible parts down to the kitchen. Family and friends stopped by to wish everyone a happy Eid. Everyone was dressed up at some point in the day, depending on whether or not they were dealing with sheep. I sported a delightful, mermaid-esque number, an Eid gift from my host mother.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday, sparing you the bloody part.

Me with my host brother and cousin.

Other relatives with one of the 4.

Kids playing on the roof. They are not nearly as cute when you get to know them.

Banjos (or banjoes?) are big in Tashelhit music, but I was a little surprised to see one adorned with eagles, stars and stripes.

Our first meal being cooked.