By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Mountain View Sets New Standards for Life Experiences Built On the Science of Happiness at iCity
    September 22, 2023
    Egypt's Emigration Minister meets with founding board of Egyptians Abroad for Investment Company
    Egypt’s Emigration Minister meets with founding board of Egyptians Abroad for Investment Company
    September 21, 2023
    ABB allocates €13bn for green transformation by 2030
    ABB allocates €13bn for green transformation by 2030
    September 21, 2023
    DMZ Cairo Demo Day 2023 showcases Egypt's top tech startups
    DMZ Cairo Demo Day 2023 showcases Egypt’s top tech startups
    September 21, 2023
    Valu partners with Le Marche, Electrotech to offer payment solutions for furniture, electronics Expo
    Valu partners with Le Marche, Electrotech to offer payment solutions for furniture, electronics Expo
    September 21, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    CCCPA, African Union train officials on ‘Climate Responsive Programming for Sustaining Peace’
    CCCPA, African Union train officials on ‘Climate Responsive Programming for Sustaining Peace’
    September 22, 2023
    Egyptian Health Minister highlights country's interest in local drug manufacturing
    Egyptian Health Minister highlights country’s interest in local drug manufacturing
    September 21, 2023
    Egypt leads meeting to urge global support for Sudan’s humanitarian crisis
    Egypt leads meeting to urge global support for Sudan’s humanitarian crisis
    September 20, 2023
    Egypt and EU co-chair GCTF meeting, reaffirm commitment to fighting terrorism
    Egypt and EU co-chair GCTF meeting, reaffirm commitment to fighting terrorism
    September 20, 2023
    Children dying in Sudan amid healthcare system collapse
    Children dying in Sudan amid healthcare system collapse
    September 20, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    September 18, 2023
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    September 14, 2023
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    September 12, 2023
    India welcomes Egypt's BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    India welcomes Egypt’s BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    September 11, 2023
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma Hassan
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma
    September 6, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Ramadan’s treasures: Ramadan’s Lantern
Share
Notification
Latest News
CCCPA, African Union train officials on ‘Climate Responsive Programming for Sustaining Peace’
CCCPA, African Union train officials on ‘Climate Responsive Programming for Sustaining Peace’
Politics
Mountain View Sets New Standards for Life Experiences Built On the Science of Happiness at iCity
Real Estate
Egypt's Emigration Minister meets with founding board of Egyptians Abroad for Investment Company
Egypt’s Emigration Minister meets with founding board of Egyptians Abroad for Investment Company
Business
ABB allocates €13bn for green transformation by 2030
ABB allocates €13bn for green transformation by 2030
Business
DMZ Cairo Demo Day 2023 showcases Egypt's top tech startups
DMZ Cairo Demo Day 2023 showcases Egypt’s top tech startups
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Culture > Ramadan’s treasures: Ramadan’s Lantern
Culture

Ramadan’s treasures: Ramadan’s Lantern

Nada Deyaa’
Last updated: 2015/06/17 at 4:20 AM
By Nada Deyaa’ 4 Min Read
Share
SHARE

fanoosThe lantern has long been used as a way of lighting, but the reason for its unique connection with Ramadan is something that Egypt originally started.

Stories of the reason the lantern is strictly attached to Ramadan has varied. One of them says that a Fatimid Caliph used it to look for the moon which indicates the start of the holy month. Over the next few years, it has become a usual thing for people to do while searching for the moon.

Another story tells that during the Fatimid era, women were not allowed to go out of their houses except in Ramadan, so a young boy would hold the lantern while walking in front of them to let the men know there are women passing by so that no one would irritate them.

But what’s for sure now is that the “Fanoos Ramadan” (Ramadan lantern) is an unbreakable tradition of the holy month, and it’s a way of expressing happiness.

It’s culturally known as the way people welcome the “Month of Generosity” with it, and a must have object in every Egyptian home.

 

mesaharatyEl-Mesaharaty

The man responsible for waking people up in the night to have their “Sohour” which is the last meal Muslims have before Sunrise is called “El-Mesaharaty”. The word is partly taken from the meal’s name.

El-Mesaharaty usually passes by with a drum while singing to wake people up. He usually sings songs about God and the Prophet Muhammad. Even though the tradition is widespread in Egypt, it also exists in several other countries including the Gulf countries and Tunisia. Yet it’s not as famous as it is in Egypt, which is known to have its own rhythm and songs. The job of El-Mesaharaty existed from the early beginnings of Islam.

 

 

Ramadan CannonRamadan Cannon

The cannon is an old way of letting people knows the time of Iftar. The call of prayer used to be the only way of letting people know when to break their fast, until the cannon was used.

Cairo was the first city to use the cannon as a form of notifying people all around the world. Stories tell that it all started accidentally, when some soldiers were cleaning a cannon in the era of the Khedive Ismail, when a mistaken bullet went in the air and accidently met the exact time of Iftar. That’s when people thought it would be a new way of informing the community of the time of Iftar. When Fatima, the daughter of the Khedive Ismail, overheard the rumours and sensed the happiness people had for it, she issued a decision of doing so every day, adding the time of Sohour as well.

Many Islamic countries started doing so afterwards, to now be a widely practised tradition in most Islamic countries.

MIDEAST ISRAEL PALESTINIANS RAMADANRamadan decorations

Through the streets of Egypt, Ramadan is known by the decoration hanging through pieces of material between buildings. The handmade decorations are made of colourful paper and patchwork fabrics. Children of each neighbourhood would start collecting donations from each apartment around, to buy the decorations with, and start hanging it a week before Ramadan as a form of welcoming it.

 

You Might Also Like

Egypt, KOICA sign $8m agreement to enhance educational capacity of Beni-Suef Technological University

Egypt to announce presidential election timetable on Monday

Egypt to launch $5bn in projects to boost economic growth

Egypt, South Sudan water ministers conclude talks on joint cooperation

Egypt Presidential Election: National Dialogue demands state bodies remain impartial

TAGGED: Culture, Daily News Egypt, DNE, Egypt, ramadan
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
By Nada Deyaa’
Follow:
Culture reporter, passionate reader and writer, animals lover and arts follower.
Previous Article 7 militants killed in armed forces’ pre-emptive strike
Next Article Kamel Karamak: A local initiative against food littering
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

CCCPA, African Union train officials on ‘Climate Responsive Programming for Sustaining Peace’
CCCPA, African Union train officials on ‘Climate Responsive Programming for Sustaining Peace’
Politics
Mountain View Sets New Standards for Life Experiences Built On the Science of Happiness at iCity
Real Estate
Egypt's Emigration Minister meets with founding board of Egyptians Abroad for Investment Company
Egypt’s Emigration Minister meets with founding board of Egyptians Abroad for Investment Company
Business
ABB allocates €13bn for green transformation by 2030
ABB allocates €13bn for green transformation by 2030
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?