What is Ramadan?
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| Frial B., LAMP Arabic Interpreter |
Second, I want to talk about one of my favorite months in the whole year, which is Ramadan. It is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar Calendar. Muslims fast for 29-30 days in this month. The fasting begins every day from dawn to the sunsets. Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and other physical activities during the day. At sunset, families gather for Iftar (breaking the fast), it starts with the Maghreb Adhan, (sunset prayer). As Muslims, we break out fasting by eating a piece of dried fruit called Tamir (Dates), and drinking yogurt water, juice, or just plain water. Then, we pray to God as an appreciation for what he has blessed us with, also praying asking him to accept our fasting, and our good deeds. Later, we gather with our families on dinner and we all enjoying eating a big feast together. However, each dinner for the whole month seems to be a big feast and the dinner table full of a variety of different kinds of dishes. I personally love this month because not only do I feel like getting closer to God and purifying my body and soul, but it also brings good memories to me. I remember when I was a little girl back home in Iraq, every day we would share our food with our neighbors. Each family would share whatever they had cooked that night with their closest neighbor. We as children back then would be so impatient for Iftar, because each night we would watch different TV shows especially for Ramadan, and all of those shows would start right after we would break our fasting. Ever since I moved to the States, Ramadan is not the same. The whole feeling of being surrounded with everything about Ramadan, such as the sound of Adhan (prayer calling), everyone around me fasting, people being more giving and forgiving, and the enjoyment of family gatherings. I miss those blessed days. Nevertheless, since my family and I moved to St. Louis, we try as much as possible to practice all of our traditions as if we are back home that includes fasting, praying, cooking traditional food, and also watching Arabic Channels.
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| Photo Credit: http://www.exploringmorocco.com/Morocco/Festival/Ramadan-and-Eid-al-Fitr-Festival-in-Morocco.aspx?Tr=8245 |
Finally, after fasting for the whole blessed Month of Ramadan, we as Muslims celebrate three days of holiday called Eid El Fitr. As a tradition, we buy new clothes; make special cookies in huge batches because we have to share them with family, friends, neighbors, and guests. Also, on the last night of Ramadan, people visit cemeteries to pray for the loved ones, and also on the morning of the holiday as a reminder that they are gone, but they are not forgotten. As a family, we first celebrate with our families by greeting our parents and siblings, which is the favorite part of the day because the parents would give money to their children. After that we would go visit relatives, friends, and neighbors.
