VOA标准英语2009-Lamb Sellers Busy as Eid Holiday Nears

The Muslim Eid al Adha or Feast of Sacrifice holiday is celebrated¹ with the slaughter² of an animal, which is then shared with the poor.

Elizabeth Arrott | Cairo 25 November 2009

Lambs for sale ahead of Eid in Cairo's City of the Dead, Cairo, Egypt, 25 Nov 2009

Muslims, worldwide, are preparing for the Eid al Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.  The holiday is celebrated with the slaughter of an animal, which is then shared with the poor.  While charity is key to the celebration, businessmen still do well.  

Death lurks³ in the maze⁴ of alleys⁵ in Cairo's City of the Dead.  It's not just in the tombs of the thousands who have passed on, but over the flesh and blood of those about to. 

For tucked into the byways of the cemetery⁶ are many of the capital's sheep markets. 

And, there is no time busier than in the days leading up to Eid al Adha.

The holiday commemorates⁷ the story of Ibrahim's willingness to follow God and sacrifice his son.  Pleased with Ibrahim's obedience⁸, God substitutes a ram⁹ for the child.

The story is one shared by Jews, Christians¹⁰ and Muslims -- who all recognize Ibrahim, or Abraham, as a prophet of their common God.

But it is Muslims who focus on the symbolism of the sacrifice.  Mahmoud Kenawi is among the shoppers looking over the lambs outside one of the tombs.

He says the slaughter takes place after the Eid prayer.  He says (according to the Sunna or tradition of the Prophet Muhammad) a third of the meat is for the household; a third goes to relatives;  and a third goes to the poor.

There are hundreds of lambs along this stretch of the cemetery.  The occasional cow and water buffalo¹¹ are also to be had, sacrificial meals for those with more to spend.

Mahmoud's wife, Shadia Mohamed Ismail, sits close by in the family truck, ready to take whichever lamb they choose home.  She is somewhat chagrinned to be shopping just two days before the holiday. 

She says her family used to raise lambs on their roof, but they were too late this year.  That's why she's buying expensive lambs.

Like Valentine's Day roses, lamb prices climb as the holiday approaches.  They are now about five dollars a kilogram, up by more than 25 percent.  That means at least $250 an animal, more than a month's salary for many here. 

But the sellers know this is their time.

A last meal for lambs ready to be sacrificed during the Eid al-Adha, Cairo, Egypt, 25 Nov 2009

One seller admits to boosting prices. But he argues the increase is split between the merchant and the buyer, words met with skepticism by those nearby.

Despite the last-minute desperation of some buyers, the sellers continue to make an effort, fluffing up the lambs' wool and giving them a last good meal of field greens. 

The lambs look content with all the attention.  They are serene¹², unaware¹³ of their fate -- non-metaphorical lambs to the slaughter.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

3 lurks   

n.潜在，潜伏；（lurk的复数形式）vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Behind his cool exterior lurks a reckless and frustrated person. 在冷酷的外表背后，他是一个鲁莽又不得志的人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fortune lies within Bad, Bad fortune lurks within good. 福兮祸所倚，祸兮福所伏。 来自互联网

4 maze   

n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑

参考例句：

• He found his way through the complex maze of corridors.他穿过了迷宮一样的走廊。
• She was lost in the maze for several hours.一连几小时，她的头脑处于一片糊涂状态。

5 alleys   

胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径

参考例句：

• I followed him through a maze of narrow alleys. 我紧随他穿过一条条迂迴曲折的窄巷。
• The children lead me through the maze of alleys to the edge of the city. 孩子们领我穿过迷宫一般的街巷，来到城边。

6 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

7 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

9 ram   

(random access memory)随机存取存储器

参考例句：

• 512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。

10 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

11 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

12 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

13 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。