Festival of Sacrifices

There are many kind of festivals celebrated in Turkey. But the most important ones are religious festivals such as Ramadan festival and the festival of sacrifice. Muslims celebrate them only because God commands to do the ritual worships during the festivals such as sacrifice an animal and give away to the people in need, remember the importance of giving a helping hand to the people and visit the relatives and friends one more time.
There is not any noteworthy difference between old times and today in the celebrating ways of festival, because people celebrate it how God command to celebrate. Today people take the festivals as an opportunity to have a vacation and don’t celebrate it as before. That is the only noteworthy difference from the old days.
I think traditional festivals are very important for all countries as it is important for us.. So, celebrating them is so significant for every society.
Seeing people to visit each other and visit their relatives and families (for whom live far away from them) make me so happy. People give gift to each other, and being more tolerant and happy. So, seeing people happy make me happy as well.
As for Kurban festival in particular, people sacrifice an animal and give its meat away, so rich Muslims gratify people in need. And, would you plz tell me what could make you happy more than that?
When Kurban Festival is mentioned, people who can not afford to buy meat and eat it often, and riches who trying to sacrifice animals for relieving them appear first in my mind.
Visits are the most significant activity during festival and this strengthen the relation between friends, families and relatives.
I sometimes choose the way to pay a visit or send a text-message to show my best wishes. Yes, sometimes I do so if I am far away from the person who I send messages or emails. But I prefer to visit if the time and distance is appropriate.
There is an obvious influence on our religious festivals from western world. In the old days, festivals such as Ramadan or Kurban were known as a time to visit relatives and friends to strengthen the link between each other. But now, when one ask what festival is, many people may answer that it is a chance to leave from the crowded city and unbrace themselves, a chance for a short vacation. That is totally the result of the influence of western culture on our society. If we – as the conscious people- make people conscious of the importance of the festivals, and bring society off the mentality that festivals are command by God to conciliate our relatives and friends, everything would better and we would celebrate it as it should be celebrated. Because of the stressful density of the works, people neglect to gather with relatives and friends and festivals are the exact time to do this. So, it may be taught – or may be reminded- to people to do so.
In my opinion, it is because of the influences of other cultures, especially western world, people neglect to celebrate the festivals as it should be done.
As I said above, the only and proper way to protect our culture is education. It must be taught to people how their culture is important and unique. Making people conscious on the values is the best way to protect traditions and festivals.