During Ramadan, Muslims from all corners of the globe come together to celebrate the holy month. There is more to Ramadan than just fasting and worshipping. It is about connecting with one’s culture and traditions, and reminiscing about a simpler time. Even though Muslims around the world observe Ramadan in the same way, there are different Ramadan traditions practiced in different countries. Here are a few: 

Egyptians light colorful lanterns:

During Ramadan, Egyptians decorate the streets with Fanoos “lanterns”, spreading light during the holy month. These lanterns symbolize unity and joy. The tales of the origin of the Egyptian Fanoos differ. One states that on the fifth day of Ramadan in the year of 358 AH (969 AD), the Fatimid Caliph Moaezz El-Din El-Allah was entering Cairo — the city his army has founded  — for the first time. As he was coming after dusk, the residents turned out en masse with candles sheltering them in wooden frames to prevent them from blowing out, to welcome him and celebrate his arrival. Later on, these wooden structures became patterned lanterns.

Drummers announce Suhoor in Turkey:

Like many other Middle Eastern countries, over 20,000 drummers roam the stress of Turkey to wake Muslims up for Suhoor. The Ramadan “davulcusu” dresses in a traditional Ottoman costume, including a fez and vest. “Recently, Turkish officials have introduced a membership card for drummers to instill a sense of pride in those who play and encourage a younger generation to keep this age-old tradition alive in the fast-changing country.”

Children sing for sweets in the UAE:

Or what we call the Muslim version of Trick-or-Treating. “Haq Al Laila” tradition takes place on Ramadan 13th, 14th, and 15th. The tradition started in Bahrain, where children roam around the neighborhood dressed in bright clothing, collecting sweets while singing a traditional local song. The chant Aatona Allah Yutikom, Bait Makkah Yudikum, which translates from Arabic to ‘Give to us and Allah will reward you and help you visit the House of Allah in Mecca.’ Now, this tradition is celebrated throughout the Gulf countries, highlighting the importance of strong social bonds and family values. 

Morocco’s town criers perform prayers at dawn:

During Ramadan, the Nafar  — a town crier —roams around Morocco’s neighborhood, wearing the traditional attire of gandora, slippers, and hat, blowing his horn to wake up families for Suhoor. People select the Nafar for his honestly and empathy. This tradition dates back to the seventh century when a companion of the Prophet Muhammad would roam the streets at dawn singing melodious prayers. 

A cleansing ritual marks Ramadan in Indonesia:

Padusan (meaning “to bathe”) is an Indonesian tradition where Muslims conduct different rituals to ‘cleanse’ themselves on the day before Ramadan. Wali Songo, are the first missionaries to communicate Islamic teaching through Java. They are believed to be the first to spread the tradition of Padusan.

Cannons fire for Iftar in Syria:

Known as Midfa al Iftar, this tradition is said to have begun in Egypt over 200 years ago when the country was governed by the Ottoman ruler, Khosh Qadam. While testing a new cannon at sunset, Qadam accidentally fired it. The sound reverberated throughout Cairo. It prompted many civilians to assume that this is the new way to signal the end of the fast. Later on, other countries such as Syria and Lebanon,  adopted the tradition. 

This Ramadan, help Syrian refugee families observe the traditions they once practiced with their families in Syria by donating to our Ramadan campaign —Ramadan Spreads. With your donation, we will provide gift cards to those families to purchase the essentials they need. All donations will be MATCHED doubling your impact.