Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Sell Lambs for Upcoming Muslim Holiday

Muslim holidays have become increasingly important to the lamb (and goat) market. Typically, the demand for lamb (and goat) increases prior to major Muslim holidays.

Eid al-Adha (or the Festival of Sacrifice) is one of the two most important festivals in the Muslim calendar. Eid al-Adha is not to be confused with the other major festival, Eid al-Fitr, or festival of breaking of the fast, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Eid al-Adha marks the occasion when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, and at the last minute God replaced his son with a lamb. There is a similar story in the Jewish Torah and Old Testament.

To commemorate the story, Muslims usually sacrifice an animal. Usually, it is a sheep, but it can also be a goat, bull, or camel. The sacrificial animal must meet certain age and quality requirements. An intact male is usually required.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor.

Eid al-Adha occurs on the same day of the Islamic calendar, but occurs 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. This is because the Islamic calendar is lunar based and the Gregorian calendar is solar based. In 2014, Eid Al-Adha will fall on or around October 4.

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