This image is the eighth symbol (though it’s sometimes symbolized with a goat or a ram). However, the idea of counting these animals became synonymous with falling asleep. During the time of the Industrial Revolution, the practice Yan Tan Tethera fell out of favor. It would be a cure for boredom to set in and sleep to take hold. Imagine counting the whole herd like that. In this numeric system, 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 is known as Yain – Tain – Eddera – Peddera. The shepherds count the numbers aloud in a manner that sounded like a rhyme, with adjacent numbers sounding similar. The tradition of Yan Tan Tethera originates from the early English shepherds who used to count their stock. If you are a person that counts Sheep to fall asleep, you can thank the British for that. The Christian church leader is called a ‘pastor,’ which is the Latin word for ‘shepherd.’ There is a reflection of this concept in every aspect of Christianity. Christian followers, because of that, are his flock of devoted and spiritually pure Sheep. It’s no surprise at all that in the Christian tradition, Christ is considered to be the ultimate shepherd. From this account comes the use of the popular saying ‘Lamb of God.’ Eid al-Adha is a popular annual Islamic festival that celebrates Abraham’s devotion and submission to God by sacrificing choice animals, mostly Sheep.

In Abrahamic traditions like Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, sheep were the perfect sacrificial animals.

Sheep or lambs have become an important religious symbol for purity, perfection, sacrifice, and even reverence.

Dark sheep tattoo