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The  Lanterns of Ramadan

فوانيس رمضان

Ramadan lanterns welcoming the arrival of the holy month in just a few days.

Wahawi ya wahawi…ioha….we kaman wahawi….ioha….

roht ya Shaaban…ioha….geit ya Ramadan….

bint al sultan…ioha…labsa al koftan….

These are the words of the folkloric song that welcome the holy month of ramadan every year.   And with this unique song played all over the radio station now, comes a unique tradition: the colorful Ramadan lanterns.  Whole streets are lined with them all over the walls, big and small and in all kinds of shapes. The holy month will start in just a few days, and all parents are taking their children to buy the ramadan lantern that will be lit for the rest of the month.

There are many theories as to where and when the tradition of the lanterns started.  One story is that it all began in the Fatimid dynasty in the 10th century A.D when  they  used to light the procession which viewed the moon to announce the beginning of the holy month and to announce the end of each day’s fast.  Fasting started when the lanterns were extinguished  just al little bit before dawn.  In the 15th century, it is said that the governor of Cairo ordered everyone to put  a lantern in front of their house.

Another story is that the lanterns originated from ancient Egyptian religious traditions,  then was adopted by the Coptic religion when colorful candles were used in religious celebrations, then finally brought to Islamic tradition, in the form of tin lanterns lit with a candle.

Even the accompanying song of wahawi ya whahawi is said to have originated in ancient Egypt.  It was the song that little children used to welcome the arrival of a new moon signaling the beginning of a new month.  Then, as with the case of the lanterns, it evolved to welcome the new moon of this holy month.

The colorful lanterns are only one of many lovely Egyptian traditions that come with this beautiful and holy month.  My favorites are the special sweets such as qatayef and konafa….yum yum.  But that’s another tradition and another blog.

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