How To Get Your Ramadan Vibe On
With less than a week to go before the Ramadan festivities begin, we thought we’d share with you some of our favorite traditions. For one month, the whole country not only syncs up its eating schedules but brings back a whole array of habits and rituals that create the vibe that makes Ramadan feel like a festival of sorts. Everything from music to food to fashion and of course the infamous Fanous (lantern) hanging everywhere signal to us that Ramadan has arrived, reminding us once again that there is always reason to celebrate and much to be thankful for. So whether you choose to fast or not, here’s a list of Ramadan essentials to get your vibe on.
1. Put on the Classic Ramadan song Wahawy ya Wahawy Iyaha
This is probably the most famous of all the Ramadan songs native to Egypt. There are quite a number of folk stories related to its origin. All seem to indicate that the popular lyric Wahawy ya Wahawy Iyaha comes from the ancient Egyptian Coptic language. Wah means ‘to shine’ or ‘to appear’ and Iyaha means ‘moon’ thus the phrase was used to celebrate the moon appearing and marking the beginning of the month of Ramadan.
Other popular songs include Ramadan Gana, Halo ya Halo, Aho Geh Ya Welad and Marhab Shahr El Soum. Any one of these songs is sure to transform your mood and get you feeling the energy of Ramadan instantly. For us Egyptians, many of these songs have been around since the time of our grandparents so not only do they mark the beginning of a spiritual season, but they fill the air with nostalgia bringing back memories of childhood and people we love dearly. If this music is an expression of anything at all, it is the bond of family and love through generations and generations.
2. Decorate your home or office space with a Fanous
Not only do we mark the arrival of Ramadan with the first light of the moon, but we light up our homes and streets with lanterns, known as Fanous. Now these lanterns have become more of a decorative touch, but back in the day hundreds and hundreds of years ago when there was no electricity, these lanterns were used by women on their way to the mosques so that passers-by will notice that there are women on the road and give them right of way. Some say that the origins of the fanous date back to the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt, while others say it stretches back further to the Ancient Egyptians who used torches to celebrate the rising of the star Sirius.
3. Eat a date or three everyday
Dates, dates, dates. I don’t think a Ramadan anywhere in the world exists without dates. Of all the rituals listed, this is the one with clearest Islamic origins. Of course, the fruit itself is native to many countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Easily grown in the hotter climates of the region, dates are perhaps the fruit emblem of Islam. They were loved and cherished by the Prophet Muhammad. He would break his fast everyday with three dates and a drink of water. And so this ritual has become one that Muslims across the globe practise to this day. Now we know that dates have many health benefits and are easily digested; so after a long fast, they are perhaps the best thing to eat as they are gentle on the stomach and revive one’s energy instantly.
4. Drink Qamar El Din or Karkade — the Classic Ramadan beverages
No Ramadan meal is complete without a cold glass of Karkade or Qamar El Din. The bright red and orange colored drinks not only add a bit of fun to our meals, but they taste extra yummy too. Qamar El Din which translates to ‘Moon of the Religion’ refers to the juice made out of apricot fruit leather. Believed to originate from Syria, the story goes that the drink is named after its inventor who was called Qamar El Din because he was so handsome that he resembled the moon (qamar). Another theory says the name of the drink comes from the fact that in the year Qamar El Din was invented, the apricot season coincided with the sighting of the new moon marking the beginning of Ramadan. Similar theories trace it to a Caliph who was known to celebrate with Qamar El Din upon seeing the crescent moon during Ramadan. If you’d like to try your hand at making this delicious drink, here’s a great recipe.
If you’re not familiar yet with Karkade, the hibiscus iced tea, you’ll be sure to come across it during Ramadan. Every restaurant, home, and cafe will be serving the tangy sweet ruby red drink. It is absolutely delicious and a must-try. Karkade is a herbal infusion made from the dried flowers of the Hibiscus Sabdariffa plant, which is found in subtropical regions like that of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Known now across the world for its healing benefits, hibiscus for us in Egypt is also associated with celebrations. The red drink is often served instead of alcohol at other festive occasions to commemorate moments of happiness and joy.
5. Have some Lissan Asfour soup
The kids and grown-ups can’t get enough of this one. Lissan Asfour soup, which translates to bird’s tongue soup, has nothing to do with any birds’ tongues but rather refers to the shape of the tiny orzo pasta which is used to make the dish. This wonderful soup is one of those rituals that we share with our ancestors. Our grandmas made it for us and we are sure to make it for our grandchildren. This soup is served at the beginning of every meal at sunset. It is very light which helps ease the stomach into digesting food again after a day of fasting. Made traditionally from chicken broth and toasted orzo pasta, it is just as easy to make as it is to eat. Here’s a recipe for you to try.
6. Wear a Galabeya
Who doesn’t love the ease of wearing a galabeya. What is often associated with rural environments or bedouin culture, in Ramadan becomes a wardrobe must-have for all. Women’s galabeyas have particularly taken off in the fashion world over the past decade. With so many styles, colours and patterns to choose from, you can get really funky and creative with your choice of galabeya.
If you’d like to know a bit more about the history of the traditional garment, you can refer to a wonderful article by previous CSA blogger Kenzy Fahmy here.
7. Qatayef for dessert
Traditionally served as a dessert, this wonderful fried and syrupy dumpling has been finding its way more and more in the savory sections of Ramadan dining tables and buffets. As a dessert, it’s usually filled with nuts or cream and drenched in a honey syrup. As a savory dish, you’ll usually find it filled with cheese. It seems to be the new take on the traditional cheese samosa which is also quite the ramadan staple.
We hope you get to experience some of our favorite Ramadan rituals this year and immerse yourself in an experience many of us hold very dear to our hearts. These rituals are not just sacred, they are imbued with love, tradition and history that remind us where we’ve come from and the beauty and connection we can find in these habits that haven’t change much over all these years. In a world that is constantly changing, it is very comforting indeed to be able to rest in these pockets of culture that have been somewhat stable and in turn help us feel anchored and grounded once again. Wishing you all a beautiful, happy and extra sweet Ramadan this year!