Spreading grain to feed the birds.. Algerians revive an old Amazigh custom in the snow season
volunteers scatter grain in the mountains to feed the birds
Coinciding with the cold wave in several states in Algeria, and the heavy snowfall after a long wait, pictures and videos spread on social media of citizens and associations scattering grains in the mountains and snow-covered areas to feed the birds in the winter.
An old Amazigh habit of feeding birds in the winter, known in several Algerian regions, especially in the Kabylie region
Many believe that scattering wheat on the tops of mountains in order to feed the birds in the winter time is not a phenomenon that surfaced by chance, and it is not a fashion, but rather an ancient tradition that has gone out of time, as the ancestors used to go to the mountains and rugged places and put wheat and barley in them so that the birds would eat them and not perish from the cold. harsh winter.
In this regard, members of the "Ath Ya'la Hunting" association, a fishermen's association in the state of Bouira, went up to the highlands of Tikjeda, which witnessed heavy snowfall, in order to distribute food in the places where wild animals are present, as well as scatter grain so that the birds that will not find anything to eat eat. In such a harsh natural environment.
For his part, he did not forget the warmth that the farmer, Mohamed Aqoun , from the municipality of Al-Asnam in Bouira, used to enjoy in his house, that he and his friends owned cows in the national barn of Djerja, which may not find anything to eat after the snow hid the pastures on which they graze, so he had only to He took bags of stale bread and went to known places where cows are and put that bread in them, writing on Facebook, "Animals and cows remember credit perhaps better than some people."
For his part , Belhawari Djilali wrote , "Spread wheat over the tops of the mountains so that it is not said that a bird is hungry in Muslim countries. An old Algerian custom is to climb to the mountains and highlands after snow falls and scatter grain and wheat on them so that the birds find something to eat and do not die of hunger."
Mohamed Amine Belkasir wrote on his account, "One of the noble customs that you find in Algeria, and specifically in the Kabylie region, is feeding birds during snow storms."
The page "All About Agriculture in Algeria" said, "One of the customs of Algerians and fishing associations, as well as forest agents, is to scatter wheat in the mountains for birds during snowfall."
In the context of his speech, Loni Saeed said, "One of the values and customs inherited from our ancestors is to spread wheat on the tops of the mountains and leave a few grains of olives in the branches so that the birds do not starve during the snow season."
For his part, Waali Bodiya considered in a publication that "the scattering of grains during the snow season proves that our ancestors were among the first protectors of nature, and it is a tradition that continues today, especially the most widespread is leaving olives in every tree for the birds. Bird right.
Ait Saadi Ibrahim said in the same context: "Snow covers the tops of mountains and hills, biodiversity must continue, and animals and birds must feed even if the earth is covered."
"In our centuries-old tradition, in the winter when our mountains wear their white cloak, the people unload sacks of wheat and food to allow the animals and birds to survive. During this period, the animals come close to the houses in search of food," he continued.
The habit of feeding birds in the winter has received wide attention and follow-up from Algerians on social media
It is noteworthy that the habit of feeding birds in the winter season is known in several Algerian regions, especially in the Kabylie region, where the inhabitants of this region have preserved and adhered to these habits to the present day, and have recently received wide attention and follow-up from Algerians on social networking sites.
Source: websites