Growing up with Ramadan

As a young child growing up in an Arabic and Islamic culture, Ramadan was a month to which everyone looked forward. Not only for the time of fasting, but for the time of celebration and good food. It is customary for people to give to the less fortunate. In the country where I lived, it was even customary for the richest family in the neighborhood to share with their neighbors. Without fail, every afternoon during the month, we got a plate full of fresh cooked camel’s meat and fresh camel’s milk, straight from the camel to the bottle. I must say, that it is a taste that you eventually acquire. You started out the day around 4:00 a.m., maybe earlier or later depending on the morning call to prayer, and ate a nice meal with your family before the fast was started.

During the month of Ramadan the school sessions are cut short, and children go to school for about 4 to 5 hours a day. Let’s just say that this was probably one of the biggest reasons kids loved Ramadan! Children did not have to start fasting until they reached puberty, but many children tried to fast at least half days and some fasted all day. Businesses usually closed from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and then people would go back to work for a few hours and then come back home to break the fast with their families. Things are much more laid back and calm during this time and many spend their afternoons in prayer, memorizing verses from the Quran, and taking naps.

During the afternoon, the mothers spend a lot of their time preparing for dinner. This is exactly like having Thanksgiving meal each night for an entire month. I am not exaggerating. It is customary for the daughters to help their mothers prepare the food, desserts, and the different drinks that are served with dinner. I remember my favorite time of the meal, and I am sure many will agree with me, was dessert. Ummm, I can still taste my mom’s famous cheese and pecan tarts, a customary dessert for Ramadan among Middle Eastern people. After dinner, night life started and everyone went out shopping and visiting with friends and neighbors. Restaurants and shops stayed open really late and people stayed up all night.

After Ramadan and before things got back to normal, Id-al-Fitr was celebrated. This is a three day celebration commemorating the end of the fast, accompanied by of course, a lot of good food. This is a time when everybody gets new clothes and it is customary for children to go around their neighborhood in their new clothes and ask for candy and money.