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Show TURKS' "FEAST OF 8 Al RAM' Day That Is Observed by Moslem Co responds With the Christmas j of the Christians. The Turk takes his, pleasures prettt' sadly; about the only time he publicl;1 relaxes Is during the feat of Bairait which In the way of gift giving, feast, Ing and good will to man correspond! to our Christmas. On that day even good Moslem kills a lamb. Its fleeof dyed a bright orange with gold or sll! ver leaf, says the Christian Sdencij Monitor. j When the lamb has beeD sacrifice! on the morning of the festival, lt flesh Is divided into three portions, on being given to the poor, another to reM atives, the third being kept for the household. On that day the sultan : goes to the mosque which Is nearesj the Yildiz Kiosk the vast asseniblapt ' of buildings which go to make up the! Imperial residence thousands collect to watch the bent, frock coated, tel. low faced, blackeyed, red fezzed little man driven sadly by. In a plain blacl barouche; followed by regiments o! cavalry, Infantry and marines; alstn quaint custom by a half-dozen If: horses beautiful, graceful Arabiai The month-long fast of Ranitiai Is held by the Moslem to be a divine institution. Its observance Is strieilj enjoined on all true believers over tht age of fourteen, invalids and travelers only excepted. Ramazan Is held In tit Dinth month of the Mohammedan year, The Moslem year being lunar. Ramazan Rama-zan makes In the course of time the round of the seasons. But throu:a the winter days, from sunrise to sunset, sun-set, the pious Mohammedan does not take a bit of food or sup of drink; he also abstains entirely from coffee, tobacco and sweets.. But the moment the echoes of the sunset gun have , died he' is at liberty to break his fast. |