Muslim Celebration of Eid al-Adha Evolves in Belgium as Traditional Sheep Sacrifice Declines

The tradition of Eid al-Adha involves the slaughter of sheep, but "this traditional sacrifice is less and less practiced in Belgium for various reasons," says RTBF. "It was the whole neighborhood that celebrated together," recalls Djamilatou Diallo, a Guinean who now lives in an apartment in Brussels. Here, we don’t have enough space. I invite some neighbors and a few friends, but it’s impossible to invite everyone we’d like to. In the country, we used to sacrifice a sheep or a goat and prepare a big barbecue."

Guinean-style couscous, made with vegetables, garlic, corn, curdled milk and fish. This is her menu for Eid 2022. "I’ll buy everything at Lidl or in African grocery stores," explains Djamilatou. Like this mother of four’s family, there are many Muslim families from Turkey, Asia, Morocco and other African countries who turn to the neighborhood butcher or the halal section of a supermarket to stock up the day before or on the day of Eid.

Other Muslims prefer to make a donation to an association in Belgium or their home country, to help the poorest instead of the traditional sacrifice. They thus donate the equivalent of the price of a sheep, 100 to 150 euros, or according to their means. The donation consists of clothes for children and adults, as well as sweaters, T-shirts and shoes.