Eid AL Adha In Libya 2009

Well , the Eid is over for another year . It was a very strange Eid here in Libya this year . The government issued a statement that said the 1st day of Eid would be on Thursday , but Saudia said the 1st day would be on Friday . So , we had some people celebrating on a Thursday , but many more waited until Friday to sacrifice their sheep . This was the 1st time ever , living in Libya we were not awakened by the mosque calling for the special Eid prayers . It was even stranger still on Thursday to know that it was SUPPOSED to be the 1st day of the 3 day Eid celebration , but it NOT being the 1st day .

No noise , no children running around getting under your feet , begging for more BBQ .It was like business as usual in the City with many shoppes open on Thursday . But come Friday morning , we had all the normal Eid activities ;shouting , the commotion of the sacrifice , the sheep bleeping , the kids running and laughing , the men yelling where was this thing or that thing , the women moaning about having to do all this extra work , all the while just as happy as the kids .Smoked filled air wafting around your head making you starving for MORE BBQ , even though you aren't too sure you could eat another bite , well ,at least until supper time ,lol

Tomorrow is the official 3rd day of the Eid and the last day that is normally spent visiting friends and family , but with the Eid the way it was this year here in Libya , am not too sure what will happen tomorrow .Typically the 1st day is spent doing the sheep and cooking . The 2nd day  people got out and visit with family and / or friends . The women choose this day to go to their families , since the 1st day is normally spent with the husbands family . The 3rd day many will try to see the remaining family and friends not yet seen .So , you seen why I wonder what will happen on Saturday . And if today(FRIDAY) is the unofficial 1st day , then will the people try to extend the Eid into Sunday  for the unofficial 3rd day ? Never a dull moment here in Libya , lol. 

We had a great Eid . On Thursday our son and his family came over to spend the day . We BBQ untill we were stuffed like the Thanksgiving turkey I had prepared for the dinner later in the evening to celebrate Thanksgiving .Friday , we did the sheep thing . I think Saturday we will just rest and recouperate ! Hope your Eid was uneventful and happy . And for all you Americans out there , I hope your turkey was nice and moist , the pies yummy , and the dressing tasty ! We all have so much to be thankful for and need to remember to count our blessings while giving thanks to God for our riches .

Pilgrims , BBQ, And The Eid

It looks like the Eid Al Adha might be either this coming Thursday , which is Thanksgiving in America , or Friday , which I am mentally geared up for .You might remember that the Eid Al Adha is when the Muslims honor the obedience of Abraham ( Ibrahim) to Gods command to sacrifice his son Ismael .Which so pleases Allah , that He tells Abraham to sacrifice a sheep instead . It is also the end of the Haj for many that make the Pilgrimage to Mecca . Rather fitting that the Eid should come during the American Thanksgiving , don't you think ? Both having something to do with Thanksgiving and Pilgrims .

Here in Libya the 1st day of the Eid is spent traditionally killing the sheep , cooking the sheep , then eating the sheep. Among all the different foods prepared of mutton on that day, the all time favorite is BBQ . And with that in mind, I am posting the joke below as a homage to the all important BBQ of the day .

BBQ  RULES
We are about to enter the BBQ season .  Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this  sublime outdoor cooking activity.. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain  of events are put into motion:

 Routine....
(1) The woman buys the food.
(2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and  makes dessert.
(3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a  tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to  the man who is lounging beside the grill .
(4) The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter  exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly  bonding activities can take place without the interference of the  woman.

 Here comes the important  part:
(5) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE  GRILL.

 More routine...
(6) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and  cutlery.
(7) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is  looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another drink while  he flips the meat .

 Important again:
(8) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT  TO THE WOMAN.

 More routine...
(9) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread,  utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.

 (10) After eating, the woman clears the table and does  the dishes.

 And most important of all:
(11) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.

 (12) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed 'her night off' and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women!
Painting  by Diane Whitehead , entitled Fun, funny Family