BAIRAM  , a Perso-

Turkish word meaning "festival," applied in Turkish to the two principal festivals of Islam . The first of these, according to the calendar, is the "Lesser Festival," called by the Turks Kiitshiik Bairam ("Lesser Bairam"), or Sheker Bairam (" Sugar Bairam"), and by Arabic-speaking Moslems `Id al-Fitr (" Festival of Fast-breaking"), or Al-'id a--.agar (" Lesser Festival") . It follows immediately the ninth or the fasting-month, Ramadan, occupying the first three days of the tenth month, Shawwal . It is, therefore, also called by Turks Ramadan Bairam, and exhibits more outward signs of rejoicing than the technically " Greater Festival." Official receptions are held on it, and private visits paid; friends congratulate one another, and presents are given; new clothes are put on, and the graves of relatives are visited . The second, or " Greater Festival," is called by the Turks ()urban Bairam, Sacrifice Bairam," and by Arabic speakers Al-'id al-kabir, " Greater Festival,". or '14 al-atlha, " Festival of Sacrifice." It falls on the tenth, and two or three following days, of the last month, Dhu-l-hijja, when the pilgrims each slay a ram, a he-goat, a cow or a camel in the valley of Mina in commemoration of the ransom of Ishmael with a ram . Similarly throughout the Moslem world, all who can afford it sacrifice at this time a legal animal, and either consume the flesh themselves or give it to the poor . Otherwise it is celebrated like the " Lesser Festival," but with less ardour . Both festivals, of course, belong to a lunar calendar, and move through the solar year every thirty-two years . See Lane's Modern Egyptians, chap. xxv.; Michell, Egyptian Calendar; Hughes, Dictionary of Islam, pp . 192 ff.; Sir R . Burton, Pilgrimage, chaps. vii., xxx . (D .

B .