sacrifices

Sacrifice is the act of giving up something valued in order to obtain something considered more important or desirable. In religious and ritual contexts, sacrifice commonly involves presenting offerings—such as animals, crops, or valued objects—to a deity, spirits, or sacred place. Offerings are often part of broader practices intended to secure favor, express gratitude, atone for wrongs, or reaffirm social bonds within a community.

Etymology: The term derives from the Latin sacrificium, from sacer "sacred" and facere "to make."

In anthropology and religious studies, sacrifice is understood as the transfer of value from the ordinary world to the sacred, conveyed through ritual acts, pronouncements, and sometimes meals. Types range from animal or plant offerings and libations to, in historical contexts, human sacrifice; many traditions have moved toward symbolic or non-harmful forms today.

Cultural contexts vary. In the classical world and in many ancient Near Eastern cultures, sacrifices were central to temple ritual and civic life. In Judaism, offerings existed in ancient temple practice; present-day Jewish devotion emphasizes prayer and acts of charity rather than ritual sacrifices. In Christianity, sacrifice is a theological motif linked to the crucifixion and ongoing liturgical remembrance of it. In Islam, animal sacrifice is prescribed for Eid al-Adha as a story of Abraham’s willingness to obey God. In Hinduism, yajna and other rites involve fire offerings and chants; similar practices appear across many Dharmic traditions. In modern secular usage, the term often denotes personal or collective concessions, such as time, resources, or goals given up for others or a cause.

See also: offerings, ritual sacrifice, atonement, symbolism.