Every year during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan. It lasts about 29 to 30 days, depending on the sighting of the new moon, and memorializes the month whereby the Prophet Muhammad received the Quran in AD 610.
Ramadan is more than just a month of fasting. It is a holy month rooted in tradition, religion, and history. Muslims all over the world celebrate this month with lively festivities that are special to their region and have been passed down through the generations.
Wonder how people around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan? Let’s discover some Ramadan traditions from various countries below!
United Arab Emirates
The festival of Haq al Laila is a famous Ramadan tradition from the United Arab Emirates. It takes place on the 15th of Sha’ban (a month before Ramadan in the Islamic calendar). This tradition is almost similar to the Western ritual of trick-or-treating.
In this festival, children dressed in bright clothing wandering their neighborhoods, collecting nuts and sweets in tote bags known as Kharyta while singing traditional Arab songs. The song “Aatona Allah Yutikom, Bait Makkah Yudikum” that translates from Arabic to ‘Give to us and Allah will reward you and help you visit the House of Allah in Mecca’, echoes through the streets as children excitedly gather the treats.
This Ramadan tradition is considered a part of Emirati national identity in the United Arab Emirates. This celebration provides a return to bygone days and emphasizes the importance of strong social relationships and family values in today’s modern society that often described as more detached and individualistic.
Kuwait
When it comes to Kuwaiti Ramadan traditions, what we just mentioned at Haq Al Laila is very close to Qarqian’an here. The difference is that this Ramadan tradition is practiced during the month of Ramadan rather than before it. This celebration goes on for three days in a row.
Children dress up in traditional attire and sing traditional songs. There are songs for both boys and girls. Children also improvise songs to provide certain wording for the person to whom they are performing. During this joyful Ramadan tradition, the children who fasting are rewarded with treats.
Iraq
The Mheibes game is Iraq’s most well-known Ramadan tradition. Iraqis gather for this traditional game after breaking fast in the early hours of the night. This game is mostly played by men during Ramadan. It involves two groups of 40 to 250 players who take turns hiding a mihbes, or ring.
Mheibes starts with the team leader keeping the ring and his hands covered in a blanket. As the leader transfers the ring to one of the other players in secret, the other participants must sit with their fists tight in their laps. In a tense exchange, their rivals must identify which of the dozens of men hide the ring by reading the body language alone. This deception game is simple but entertaining, and it has been passed down from Iraqi families for generations.
Indonesia
Nyekar is one of the unique Ramadan traditions in the world. This Indonesian Ramadan tradition takes place before the holy month begins. Nyekar is a way of paying respects to family members who have passed away.
Ramadan is a time of introspection and faith renewal for Indonesians (especially Javanese), and it marks the end of one life cycle and the beginning of another. Before fasting, someone must pay their respects to their deceased relatives by visiting their graves, putting flowers on them, and praying.
Some rural communities make spiritual offerings to their deceased ancestors, a tradition that has been passed down over generations. Javanese Muslims sometimes also pray for good luck or wellness if they are ill during the graveside rituals. During Nyekar, Muslims in some areas of Java also pay tribute to the graves of ancient kings and respected public figures.
Egypt
Annually, Egyptians celebrate Ramadan with Fanous. Fanous is a brightly colored lamp that signifies unity and joy in the holy month. The streets, houses, and neighborhoods in Egypt are lit up with these metal and colored glass lanterns as part of the Ramadan traditions. Even though this Ramadan tradition is more cultural than religious, it has become closely associated with the holy month of Ramadan and has acquired spiritual significance. Fanous is one of the world’s most colorful and beautiful Ramadan traditions.
In the Middle East, the lantern, known as “Fanous” in Arabic, has become a symbol of Ramadan. However, Cairo has a special place in Egyptians’ hearts since it is considered the birthplace of the Fanous. According to various accounts, the Fanous was first associated with Ramadan in the 10th century, when the Fatimid Caliphate ruled vast areas of the Muslim world from Egypt.
Turkey
Imagine being shocked awake in the middle of the night by the sound of noisy drums. Many people will be annoyed by the situation, but that is not the case in Turkey during Ramadan. Since the period of the Ottoman Empire, people fasting during Ramadan have awakened to the sound of drums pounding early in the morning for suhoor. Despite the passing of time (and the advent of alarm clocks), over 2,000 drummers still walk the streets of Turkey during the holy month, unify the local people.
The Turkish Drummers are dressed in traditional Ottoman attire that includes a fez and a vest with traditional motifs. They’re walking around with their davuls (Turkish double-headed drum). They go all over the neighborhood singing and drumming, waking people up for a small tip (bahsis). Turkish officials recently launched a membership card for drummers to cultivate pride in those who perform and to inspire a younger generation to continue this Ramadan tradition in the modern country.
Morocco
The Nafars of Morocco, like the drummers of Turkey, are in charge of waking Muslims up for suhoor. The townspeople commonly choose the most compassionate and trustworthy members of the community to serve as Nafars. The Nafar wanders through the neighborhood, singing melodious prayers while wearing the traditional gandora, hat, and simple pair of slippers.
This Ramadan tradition, which has spread from the Middle East to Morocco, dates back to the 7th century when a companion of the Prophet Muhammad would sing melodious prayers in the streets at dawn. The sounds of these prayers spread through the town, spreading an air of serenity and gratitude. It is without a doubt one of Morocco’s most beautiful Ramadan traditions.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
People in Bosnia-Herzegovina also have a special Ramadan tradition. They fire a cannon before breaking their fast. They don’t use any average cannons, which makes it special. They use the Yellow Bastion building’s cannons that are said to be hundreds of years old. Locals love to watch this tradition when having a picnic and will greet the cannons’ noise with cheers.
Albania
Traditional songs have been used by members of the Roma Muslim community in Albania to announce the start and end of fasting for centuries. They would roam the streets every day during Ramadan, playing a lodra, a homemade double-ended cylinder drum covered in sheep or goatskin. To celebrate the start of iftar, Muslim families often invite them into their homes to play traditional ballads. This Ramadan tradition dates back to the Ottoman Empire.
Which Ramadan tradition is your favorite?
Do you want to experience any of those interesting Ramadan traditions while visiting the country? Unfortunately, you can’t travel abroad during this pandemic. Meanwhile, you can start to learn the language before you have a proper time to travel to those countries. Let’s head over to our website Lingotalk.co to learn new languages, and of course for more insightful articles!
