Somali Ramadan Traditions start the moment the new moon is seen in the sky and everyone gets so excited to begin their fast. In every city and small town the Somali Ramadan Traditions bring a special feeling of peace where people forgive each other and share what they have with the poor. You can see the Somali Ramadan Rituals in the way the markets get very busy in the afternoon with mothers buying fresh meat and milk for the evening meal. When the sun goes down the most important of the Somali Ramadan Rituals is breaking the fast with dates and water before eating a big plate of Sambuusa.
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Families sit on the floor together to follow these Somali Ramadan Rituals and they always make sure to send some food to the people living next door even if they don’t know them well. During the night the Somali Ramadan Rituals continue with men and boys going to the mosque for long prayers called Tarawih while the streets stay bright with lanterns.
You will hear people laughing and talking late into the night because part of the Somali Ramadan Rituals is staying awake to eat a small meal called Suhoor before the sun comes up again. It is a very tired but happy time and these Somali Ramadan Traditions help keep the culture strong for the young children who are learning about their religion. Even if a person moves far away to another country they always try to keep their Somali Ramadan Rituals alive to feel close to their home.
Facts About Somali Ramadan Traditions
One of the coolest Somali Ramadan Traditions is how the whole neighborhood wakes up together for the early morning meal. You will also find that the Somali Ramadan Rituals include drinking a lot of fresh camel milk which gives people energy for the long day. Another secret of the Somali Ramadan Rituals is that many shops close during the day but stay open until 3 am so people can enjoy the cool night air.
The Taste of the Month
The kitchen is the heart of the house during this month because the Somali Ramadan Traditions require special dishes like Canjeero or a sweet porridge called Boorash. Every mother has her own secret way of making the food but the Somali Ramadan Rituals always focus on making enough to share with any guest who walks through the door.
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Helping the Needy
A big part of the month is giving Zakat which fits perfectly with the Somali Ramadan Rituals of looking after the orphans and the hungry. People save their money all year just so they can follow these Somali Ramadan Rituals and buy clothes or food for those who have nothing.
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Faith and Prayer
The mosques are always full during this time because the Somali Ramadan Traditions put a lot of focus on reading the Quran from start to finish. It is a time for thinking about your life and how to be a better person which is the most beautiful part of the Somali Ramadan Rituals for many people.
