A few days into Dhul-Hijja, fasting and stuck in yet another traffic jam in conjested Sana'a city - the capital of Yemen.
What is it this time? Car accident? Traffic copper didn't show up for work? New military checkpoint maybe? But this traffic jam is rather strange...the cars are not bunching up and pushing in as they usually do...they are leaving wide spaces between them and other cars. Weird. Then up ahead I some men have come into view running excitedly and waving their headscarves around in the air. Is this some sort funny Yemeni eid festivity that I haven't seen before?
Then it ran by...a HUGE bull on the loose, escapee from a transport van, a reluctant sacrificial bull, bullrushing all over the major arterial road of the city with scores of men chasing it around.
Alhamdulillah for the bull stopping the traffic or I might have gotten annoyed by yet another delay. The bull offered some much needed comical relief.
In the days leading up to Eid al-Adha the streets are full of sacrificial animals from mainly sheep and bulls. Extra holding pens are set up all over the place to take all these extra animals and it is inevitable that some get loose and run all over the roads.
People choose a nice looking animal for the sacrifice. Many prefer white sheep - racist. It all looks the same once you get the skin off! And for something extra special, choose a big bull to share around. Once you choose your animal, your name will be spray pained onto its coat.
Return after salat al-eid to collect your meat.
What is it this time? Car accident? Traffic copper didn't show up for work? New military checkpoint maybe? But this traffic jam is rather strange...the cars are not bunching up and pushing in as they usually do...they are leaving wide spaces between them and other cars. Weird. Then up ahead I some men have come into view running excitedly and waving their headscarves around in the air. Is this some sort funny Yemeni eid festivity that I haven't seen before?
Then it ran by...a HUGE bull on the loose, escapee from a transport van, a reluctant sacrificial bull, bullrushing all over the major arterial road of the city with scores of men chasing it around.
Alhamdulillah for the bull stopping the traffic or I might have gotten annoyed by yet another delay. The bull offered some much needed comical relief.
In the days leading up to Eid al-Adha the streets are full of sacrificial animals from mainly sheep and bulls. Extra holding pens are set up all over the place to take all these extra animals and it is inevitable that some get loose and run all over the roads.
People choose a nice looking animal for the sacrifice. Many prefer white sheep - racist. It all looks the same once you get the skin off! And for something extra special, choose a big bull to share around. Once you choose your animal, your name will be spray pained onto its coat.
Return after salat al-eid to collect your meat.