Should children be shown the slaughter of animals during Eid al-Adha? Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan answers this question as follows: “Children up to the age of 7 should not be shown slaughter if they do not want it. Even if the child wants to watch, the worship aspect and spiritual aspect of the holiday should be explained. Holidays are a time when relations with neighbors and relatives are strengthened and one-to-one acts of kindness are done.”
Üsküdar University Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that the sacrifice should not be shown to children who do not want it during Eid al-Adha.
Prof stated that the fears experienced by children arise from the behavior of their parents. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that if the child is to be shown the sacrifice, the Eid al-Adha and its meaning should be explained and said, "It is recommended that children up to the age of 7 should not be shown the sacrifice if they do not want it. If everyone in the family wants a child when they leave, it is necessary to inform the child. "The reasons for sacrificing an animal should be explained to the child in a way that he can understand," he said. Tarhan said, “The sacrifice comes beforehand, the child plays with the sacrificial animal, the child establishes an emotional bond with the sacrifice. Laying down the sacrificial animal and slaughtering it also causes fear. There are children who do not eat meat just for this reason. "If you make the child lie down and cut him in front of his eyes without informing him, such negative consequences may occur," he said. Stating that it is necessary, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said:
“Cultural learning comes to the fore as the sense of reality and abstract thinking begins to develop in the 7-year-old child. It should be explained that this is a religious duty and has a social dimension such as helping the poor. Information should be given about the culture of cooperation that emerges especially during Eid al-Adha. It should be explained that there are people in need who bring meat to their homes from Eid to Eid, and that the poor should be considered, and it should be emphasized that it is a social worship.
Eid al-Adha� It is necessary to make it mentally acceptable for the child by explaining both its worship aspect and spiritual dimension with justification. This also applies to children over 7 years old. It is necessary to ensure that the victim is seen as a religious ritual rather than as violence.”
The child who is not mentally prepared is afraid
Fears arise when the child is not mentally prepared. Emphasizing Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “It is necessary to explain to the child mentally and psychologically what sacrifice means and that shedding blood is not a pleasure. It is necessary to explain to the child that we consume animal foods to meet our protein needs, not only on this holiday but also at other times. "It is important for us to say that animals are fed and raised for this purpose, and when the time comes, they are slaughtered and consumed, and that there is such a balance in the universe."
Do not reflect your fear on the child
Stating that it reflects his own fears, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “If the child is extremely afraid, parents should make self-criticism about this issue. If there is concern that the child will experience trauma, the child should not be brought into that environment at all. If the parents are calm, the child will also be calm because the child looks at the mother and father. If the parents do normal rituals, the child will also be calm. If the reason for Eid al-Adha is explained patiently and calmly, the child will be convinced. "Either trust or fear is created by looking at the body language of their parents," he said.
The holiday is an opportunity to teach children kindness and compassion!
Stating that children should be given responsibilities regarding life, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also stated that the holiday is important in terms of expressing feelings such as mercy and kindness and made the following evaluations:
“The child needs to be taught the concept of compassion and coping with bad emotions. The balance of freedom and responsibility needs to be taught. Responsibilities of life should be given to the child from an early age. Eid is an opportunity for this. The holiday contributes to the socialization of the child. Especially holidays are a time when relations with neighbors and relatives are strengthened and one-on-one acts of kindness are done. Holidays are times when people help people they don't know. The child also learns to do good deeds during this period. learns. Doing good is such a feeling that it makes both the recipient and the person doing the good happy. Our forgotten traditions, such as helping each other during holidays and visiting, help the child learn about life.
Loneliness is the biggest psychosocial problem!
The most important problem of this period that we encounter in child psychiatry and in the world. The biggest problem is people's loneliness. Loneliness is the biggest psychosocial problem and even one of the biggest causes of Alzheimer's. Being alone in older people negatively affects their mental health and makes it easier for them to develop Alzheimer's disease. It is necessary to remember the elderly and visit them and to get children used to this. In some countries of the world, children are given some tasks in this sense and are asked to visit the elderly and provide services. This already exists in our culture, but we are abandoning it.”
Holidays should be a time of sharing, not entertainment!
“Eid means increasing social capital,” said Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Social capital is the wide social relationship network of people. Not only professional and business life, but also close relationships and relatives in other social life are social capital. One should not wait for a disaster to help each other; the sick, the elderly, the oppressed and the lonely should be visited on the occasion of the holiday. Holidays are a time to remember these disadvantaged people. When we do this, the holidays become appropriate to their meaning. Holidays should not only be a time of fun, but also a time of sharing. The root of the word sacrifice has the meaning of approach, it is the human effort to get closer to the Creator. The purpose is not just to slaughter animals. The aim is to add meaning to one's life. It is a search for meaning in existence.”
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