Treasured traditions unite Algerian families together as they celebrate Eid al-Adha

Algerians are embracing the social customs and rituals of the blessed holy day of Eid al-Adha ("Feast of the Sacrifice") which have been passed down the generations and differ from region to region – with days of busy preparation preceding the feast day, which is marked by a sacrificial slaughter (usually of a sheep or goat) and which began at sunset on Wednesday 28 June and will end on 2 July.  

Despite the high cost of livestock due to inflation and the deepening financial crisis, many families are keen to participate in the tradition of the sacrifice. In the days leading up to the feast day, families will diligently clean and decorate their homes ready to welcome the joyous celebration.

Eid al-Adha is revered among Algerians, not only because it is a religious rite and holy day, or because it coincides with the sacred Hajj pilgrimage, but also because it is a chance for families to get together, bonds of kinship to be renewed, and for children to be happy, have fun and enjoy themselves.

"Eid al-Adha is revered among Algerians, not only because it is a religious rite and holy day, or because it coincides with the sacred Hajj pilgrimage, but also because it is a chance for families to get together, bonds of kinship to be renewed, and for children to be happy, have fun and enjoy themselves"

Preparing for the Feast of the Sacrifice

Zahra Maarouf from Chlef province in western Algeria says to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister edition: "Because I am employed in a public-sector institution, I have to work through the daytime hours. However, I am eager to get all the preparations ready – by buying all the special equipment used in the "Greater Eid" as people call it.

"Most of this is for the sacrifice – families have to buy different pots and the equipment needed for the slaughter and cutting as well as cooking and grilling equipment. Additionally, people buy special spices […], as spices add the fragrance to the Eid dishes. Despite the symbolic differences between Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, families also like to prepare some types of sweets."

The distinct aromas and festive atmosphere of Eid al-Adha can be detected weeks before it begins – as people rush to purchase livestock for the sacrifice and the streets and markets fill with vendors plying their wares – especially equiptment for the sacrifice, knives, plastic bags, and charcoal - viewed as an essential component of the Great Eid as its needed for barbequing.

Seasonal traders

Some seize on the opportunity to make money - with seasonal vendors reserving their spaces at popular markets or at the side of streets in busy neighbourhoods. Hisham (25) is one such vendor – he annually sets up his stall in the centre of Mila, a city in eastern Algeria. He has got used to doing this yearly because there is such big demand, he says.

"Some of the supplies cost over 10,000 Algerian dinars (around $50). I sell bags of charcoal and tools to cut the sacrifices, and large and small knives as a seasonal job because so there are so many customers and it makes big profits."

Nor do Algerians forget to prepare meticulously for the performance of the Salat al-Eid, or Eid prayer.  Cleaning of the mosques starts in the days leading up to Eid, so that they will be ready to receive the worshippers. In some regions, notably the south, people perform the Eid prayer out in the open. In these cases the area is also made ready days before the holy day, and plastic carpets will often be laid down to facilitate praying.

"Algerian families take advantage of Eid al-Adha to renew ties and get together, and this is an aspect which is even more appreciated today when large social gatherings have become more difficult"

Family gatherings

Algerian families take advantage of Eid al-Adha to renew ties and get together, and this is an aspect which is even more appreciated today when large social gatherings have become more difficult and family reunions rarer. Dr Wassila Suleimani explains that the holy Eid days present an opportunity which isn't matched by other celebrations – "especially Eid al-Adha, which means [for us] a family reunion, and it is gatherings that we miss so much today."

Suleimani adds that some customary traditions are in decline – "while some families have held on to the tradition of gathering together in the middle of the large family home to slaughter the sacrificial animal, today's way of life and modern housing have seen others choose to have the animal killed in slaughterhouses designated for this occasion far from the family home - especially those living in flats in apartment blocks.

"The women of the family will come together to wash the sacrifice, and then cut the meat and start preparing the meal for the first day of Eid. It used to be a distinct feature of the Eid customs that they would be carried out within a large family circle or among neighbours, but these customs have diminished."

Karim Saadawi, a sociology professor at the University of Djelfa, explains that humans have an innate need to celebrate holy days and feel that they are “essential, and therefore they hold on to them, or rather, to their rituals, as the event becomes [imbued with] an enduring value that brings joy and a sense of belonging". He says that the practices and celebratory rituals done on the holy Eid festivals have retained their symbolism, and Algerian society has taken care to protect its heritage and rituals especially on Eid al-Adha, where the bonds of family and society more broadly are strengthened.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition with additional reporting. To read the original article click here.

Translated by Rose Chacko

This article is taken from our Arabic sister publication, Al-Araby Al Jadeed and mirrors the source's original editorial guidelines and reporting policies. Any requests for correction or comment will be forwarded to the original authors and editors.

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