European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                At right turkish shepherds wait for buyers at a vacant lot in Adana three Days before the feast of the sacrifice. 0 let v Vav a it  of the feast sacrifice Celil bag straddles a sheep while preparing it for butchering. A amps photos by Ken George by Deedee Arrington Doke staff writer it is just after 7 . Celil bag draws his knife and softly recites a few phrases from the Koran. Adnan Birbari and his family watch As bag slices the Throat of a sheep with a deft stroke. The blood swirls into a Gutter and bag removes the sheep s head. The sheep is the first of several that the Bimbiris of Adana Turkey will sacrifice this morning for their Observance of Kurban Bayrami or the feast of the sacrifice a major moslem religious Holiday. There Are different versions of the sacrificial Celebration s origins. In the most popular the sheep Are killed in memory of god s provision of a sacrificial ram allowing Abraham to spare his son. The Story is told both in the Koran the sacred Book of islam and in the Christian Bible. Another explanation of Kurban Bayrami s origin is that Many sheep were killed years ago to feed moslem visiting Mecca from All around the world. Today Kurban Bayrami coincides with the time when devout moslem make their pilgrimage to Mecca the holy City of Faith in saudi Arabia. A the lunar Calendar determines Kurban Bayrami s dates. This year moslem will celebrate the feast of the sacrifice july 1-5. Although it s still Early in the Day the Birbari Home is the third Kurban Bayrami Stop for bag. The Butcher whose regular customers include the Bimbiris will to to six Homes this Day to sacrifice sheep. Quot Celil has been doing this for my Uncle for years. He s quite skillful Quot says Mehmet Birbari Adnan s Nephew of bag s sacrificial work. No part of the ram will go to waste if a skillful Butcher is in charge. Tradition Calls for the animal s meat to be divided into thirds one part to the sacrificing family one to neighbors and one to the Butcher Celil bag and members of the Birbari a unload one of the sacrificial sheep. Poor. The skin and Wool Are donated to a collect who will give the proceeds from the Sale to the the intestines can be used for suture material in hospitals. Even the ram s head can be cooked Quot waste is against our religion Quot Mehmet says the Bimbiris ritual sacrifices Are carried out in parking lot several floors below their apartment. Lutfiye Birbari the woman of the House is ups Taii the family Home cleaning and preparing for gues the menfolk watch bag do his work. Elsewhere in Adana a City of 1 million those wealthy enough to afford the turkish lira equiv of $75 to $150 for a sheep execute the animals c their balconies in front of their businesses or in Back Yards a in Short wherever there is open of and a Gutter where blood can Wash away. Quot the head of the family is expected to do the butchering but i d rather assign someone else Adnan a Volkswagen parts dealer in turkish tar his English speaking Nephew. Sheep Sellers Herd their rams a Many Sportini brightly dyed patches on their Wool a to Turkey cities in the Days before Bayrami starts. Familial 12 stripes Magazine May 24, 1990