During the month of Ramadan, the Nafar, a town crier, roams the neighborhoods of Morocco wearing a traditional robe called gandora, slippers, and a hat. Chosen by the townspeople, the Nafar’s task is to walk down the streets blowing a horn and calling people to wake them up for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal.

In Mauritania, people have unique characteristics when it comes to celebrating the holy month of Ramadan going back to ancient times. The hair on the heads of boys, and sometimes adults, is left to grow until Ramadan and then it is shaved in honor of this holy month.

Meanwhile, in Tunisia, preparations for the month of fasting begin by cleaning houses, preparing Ramadan supplies, and buying new food utensils to celebrate the holy month.

Markets and shops are active and the storefront of cafes and tea halls are decorated with dazzling lights and Ramadan lanterns. The mosques are adorned with bright lamps and are filled with worshipers. The Tunisian authorities organize religious competitions for memorizing the Holy Qur’an in all Tunisian regions. Tunisians also exchange phrases of congratulations on the first day of Ramadan.

Families in Jordan are keen to set up tents to sit in during Ramadan to exchange food between families as well as visits. In the past, the elders and imams of mosques used to choose Al-Musaharati, who used copper cups to knock them together to wake up the sleepers to eat suhoor. However, with recent developments, this profession became threatened with extinction in Jordan and the Arab world.

In Syria, specifically on the night of Sha’ban 30, judges and notables sit in the Umayyad Mosque in the city of Damascus to announce the start of fasting, and Syrian families hang lanterns, flags, and decorations on the doors and in front of their house. They also prepare sweets during the days of Ramadan, the most famous of which is Kunafa and Ma’arouk, a disk stuffed with raisins and dates topped with molasses.

In Lebanon, children practice traditional Ramadan customs, such as ‘Sibana Ramadan’ which involves taking a picnic to one of the beaches on the last day of Sha’ban and is devoted to eating what people crave from food before abstaining from it during Ramadan. The Lebanese people are keen to decorate streets and balconies with lights and lanterns.

In Sudan, upon confirmation of the official sighting of the crescent of Ramadan, a march is organized that roams the streets of cities. Known as the Zaffa, it consists of police, military musical choir, and various popular groups.

The majority of Sudanese people do not break the Ramadan fast at home, especially in the countryside, as they go out with their tables to the streets and roads.

Sudan’s specialty drink ‘bittersweet’ is undisputedly the most popular Ramadan drink among everyone.

In Comoros, residents go on the first night of Ramadan to the beaches carrying sparkling torches, and sing a number of hymns with the beats of drums until Suhoor, marking the first day of fasting.

There, many prefer to hold weddings during this month. Amongst their customs is the organization of folklore parties on beaches, farms, and parks in preparation for the month of fasting, and collective iftar in mosques, and after Taraweeh prayers, people gather in circles to listen to religious lessons and lectures. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency