"Kurban Bayramı (Sacrifice Holiday)
Kurban Bayramı celebrated two months and ten days after Şeker Bayramı is Turkey's longest religious and also secular holiday. This holiday commemorates Abraham's near sacrifice of his son Ismail (Isaac). It is a shocking experience for newcomers. According to Muslim beliefs rams and calves are sacrificed. Following Islamic tradition every devout household who can afford it buys one.In recent years Muslims have begun to make donations to charitable institutions instead of sacrificing animals. Despite this however, your neighbor may still decide to sacrifice a sheep, and you might be surprised to see this happen in your garden! The owners of these animals sacrifice them according to appropriate Muslim traditions with the assistance of a butcher on the morning of Kurban Bayramı. In accordance with Muslim traditions 1/3 of the meat should immediately be cooked at home by the owner of the animal, 1/3 of the meat should be distributed among the poor and the last 1/3 should distributed among neighbors and relatives. Kurban Bayram is on December 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2007."