Thursday, December 11, 2008

Corban Festival - Sheep Slaughtering

The sheep was tied up.

A prayer was said.

The sheep's throat was slit, and the blood drained.

The head was cut off.

A small hole was cut into its hind leg, through which air was blown, helping to separate the skin from the body.

The carcass was hung from a tree, facilitating the skinning.

The skin and the small intestines were sent to the mosque as an offering. Each skin can fetch about 70 reminbi on the market.

The rest of the insides and part of the meat were eaten by the family. The rest of the meat were given to relatives, friends, and the needy.


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the illustration and explanation. They do it in the street in open space?
Are you back? Ann

Anonymous said...

Each family need to slaughter one in this festival? Raymond

tabbycat said...

Poor sheep. Baaaaaaa.....

StephenC said...

Not in the street. But, yes, in open space, such as the parking area behind apartments.

StephenC said...

Yes, Each family should slaughter one if they can afford it. The standard is a sheep. The wealthier ones kill an ox, or camel. The poor ones kill a chicken, ...

StephenC said...

Imagine your being the last sheep to be slaughtered. You watch other sheep having their throats slit and then skinned, ...

StephenC said...

I went to 2 other places yesterday and today. Back in Xining now. Will return tomorrow, and will post more later.

See you then.

Anonymous said...

Did you hold the knife? Vincent

StephenC said...

To slit the throat of the sheep? No, I don't think I can do it. Watching it was bad enough.

The savageness of the act was mitigated already by the thick layer of wool, which obscured the act. Otherwise I am not sure I can stand even watching it.

It seems the older I get, the softer I have become.