Growing up as a child Ramadan didn’t seem anything special. The parents were praying more and the house was quieter than usual…..the main thing I enjoyed was in the summer months when dad came home to break his fast; I used to sneak down past my bedtime and eat with him. I don’t think mum used to approve but I got to spend time with dad!
As a parent I have realised that is vital to ensure our children understand what Ramadan is about, get them involved and get them excited about Ramadan. It is now easier to make Ramadan feel more special for our children and help them get them excited about it, with decorations, books and games, countdown calendars and much more.
I had heard of some families having ramadan traditions which they look forward to each year; it can be as simple as having new pyjamas. When I thought about it myself I realised we don’t have any specific traditions.
I do however often get a Ramadan Basket prepared for the girls, get out all their ramadan books, hang up some basic decorations and have a countdown to Eid calendar with treats.
Ramadan and Eid Traditions
I decided to ask some fellow bloggers what their Ramadan and Eid traditions are to help give other mums some ideas as to what to do with their children:
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We love giving new books and pjs at the beginning of Ramadan to the kids. It sets an exciting tone for the days ahead.
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This year we started doing a challenge when it was about 90 days called #90daystoramadanproject2019. Doing this to give the feel of Ramadan is coming up and in shaa allah our iftiars and taraweeh will be in masjid where all 30 days will be like a Eid! Being an expat in US we got a good bonding with people when we went to masjid regularly Maa shaa allah! Kids can either pray I mean toddlers else they can play in the kids room! They do have story time in the masjid for all 30days. So they get to know about Allah more and start counting days for the Ramadan month to come!
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My family (on my inlaws side) have a tradition of meeting up every single day of Ramadan for Iftar. Even though we live in different parts of the city we get together no matter what and each one of us cooks up a dish and brings it over so that the burden is distributed among the ladies. So as Ramadan approaches even the kids of the household are excited to be with their cousins and go to the masjid together. I feel it bonds us a family and it is my fav time of the year. We sit together as a family and discuss both deen and duniya and there are also times when my mom in law tells all of us stories from the Quran or explains few hadiths.
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On the first fay of Eid, we get dressed in our abayas (my daughter age 6 and I) and my son wears his thobe. We go to the Masjid for salat. Then we go out for pancakes. The rest of the days we spend with our friends going out, eat out and just having a great time! Also, we do not go to school on the first day of Eid.
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Every night of Ramadan I make the table look nice and make healthy food. Then the neighbours usually bring us junk food. At the weekend we go to mosque for Iftar which is really special. On Eid we go for Eid Salah on the park. We come home have a big breakfast. Then do a treasure hunt with the presents. The rest of the day we will have a family day out.
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During Ramadan, we decorate our home with handmade paper lanterns and I always plan a visit to my oldest daughter’s classroom where we give her classmates dates and cookies, do a Ramadan craft (last year we made paper prayer rugs) and we read the Curious George Ramadan book. It’s nice to teach the other children as it is a non-Muslim school and it bring diversity to the classroom. Last year, one of her caregivers who grew up in Lebanon and is a Christian had tears in her eyes hearing the students shout “Ramadan Mubarak!”because it reminded her of home.
Throughout the month, my oldest (she is 5) and I pray Taraweeh prayers together at home while her dad is at the masjid and we are home with the baby. On Eid morning, we have a traditional Moroccan Eid breakfast with lots of yummy goodies and milky rice, and we dress in new beautiful clothes and go to the masjid for salat-ul-Eid. Afterwards, we come home and my daughter opens gifts (this year her baby sister will be old enough too insha Allah) and we relax a bit before we go out to the masjid-organized activities like bouncy castles and whatnot. Usually, in the evening we go to my best friend’s house for dinner (she is also a revert) and celebrate with her family, but in past years we have also had my family over to enjoy a meal with us in the evening.
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My children and I do at least one good deed a day during Ramadan! On Eid our good deed is either hosting an Eid Open House for our neighbours (Muslim and non-Muslim) or giving our neighbours sweets!
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I usually change things up according to my kids’ age. Last year, I made a Ramadan reading corner in which we sat and read books. We read books everyday nonetheless, but Ramadan reading was special as it was inside a tent filled with fairy lights.
This time, I’m doing one jannah hadith a day (discussions) along with play-doh mini tins to get our imagination rolling 😍
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This year I want my sons to make most of the time before iftar (breaking fast)
They could –
🔹Help me prepare salad/ juice.
🔹help me set the table for iftar.
➡️ Insha Allah by doing these they will gain reward for every person they help break the fast! This should encourage them to spend more time helping me.
🔸Teach them a dua with it’s meaning. I will ask my elder son to search which prophet uttered the invocation and why he did so.
🔸He could explain this to my younger son. I may add few points when they relate it to me. (Mostly I may end up learning something more)
Honestly, I like to keep things simple during Ramadan. I would love my children to feel the essence of Ramadan without much fuss.
May Allah help us make most of Ramadan . Ameen
– HAYA NEWLEAF
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Just as the moon of Ramadan is sighted, I decorate the house with a ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ bunting and put up the string of star and crescent lights I have at home. I try to make the house give those Ramadan vibes so my 4 year old boy knows about it.
During Ramadan, I also invite friends and family so they can break their fast with us. We all sit together, eat and pray, which is a brilliant way of inculcating the concept of fasting and Ramadan in children.
On Eid, we host a BBQ party at our house and invite friends and family. Everyone dresses up, I decorate the house with ‘Eid Mubarak’ bunting, balloons and lights and set up the table with delicious food and desserts especially vermicelli, a speciality of Eid. Prior to Eid, my son & I pack presents for all the little kids, and on Eid day, he distributes them to all his friends and cousins.
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Do you have any traditions with in your family? Do share them with us in the comments!
Loved reading about all the Ramadan and Eid traditions followed by different people around the globe.
It has given me some ideas of what to do!
Loved reading about different traditions…. Amazing post
Thanks
Ramadan! When I was a child, not much was done to entertain us. But we enjoyed the special lemonade and agar-agar sweets that were served in the iftar.
It’s only after we started fasting we realized the essence of Ramadan. The pleasure one feels during iftar is unparallel.
It’s nice to know that we can do so much more to help little ones feel pleased.
Oh agar agar sweets sound interesting… (goes off to google)
Eid is a big family fare at my in-laws….all the family members come together…it is always a loving time to see children bonding with one and other..I enjoyed reading the traditions written by you all…
It is quiet for us here as it is only immediate family. The rest are abroad
I love the idea of couples starting ramadan traditions even before they have children, or creating new ones when they do have children. It’s such a healthy and loving way to raise your child in the spirit of Ramadan, to get them excited and just teach them along the way. Parents need to remember little things go a long way, and children who feel apart of Ramadan which is an amazing month in Islam grow to InshaAllah spread the same piety and love with others and their families oneday. Thank you for sharing!
It certainly is a lovely idea to start them as a couple
Jazakillah khairan katheera. Always a pleasure being a part of your blog ❤
Wa iyaaki!