Ramadan decoration in process.. Photo: (Al-Ahram)
The holy month of Ramadan has its own warm rituals. It arrives with a sense of serenity, as the rhythm of homes shifts and hearts soften, as if preparing to welcome a dear guest.
Even before the sighting of the Ramadan crescent, signs of joy begin to appear: balconies are cleaned, greetings are exchanged, and people await the moment when streets are decorated in celebration.
When I was a child, Ramadan decorations were entirely handmade. We would knock on neighbours’ doors asking for a few coins, then gather to plan and create. With enthusiastic fingers, we cut out stars, domes, and mosques from paper.
We mixed starch to make glue and attached our paper artwork to long threads stretched from wall to wall. Every street had its own distinctive decorations, and every neighbourhood took pride in its display, with a gentle competition over who could bring the most joy to the street.
Today, the scene has changed. Decorations are mostly purchased rather than handmade, often replaced by strings of lights and shimmering paper that illuminate the streets. Yet despite these changes, the spirit of Ramadan remains constant.
The tradition of Ramadan decoration dates back to the early Islamic era. According to Ibrahim Marzouk’s book Dalil Al Awael, the companion Tamim Ibn Aws Al-Dary was among the first to illuminate mosque interiors with a qandil (oil lamp), particularly on Fridays.
Abu Bakr Al-Gasas also notes that Muslims in the fourth and early fifth Hijri centuries decorated streets and lit gathering places during Ramadan.
Historical accounts also suggest that Caliph Omar Ibn El-Khattab was keen to light mosques to facilitate taraweeh prayers.
In Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed ordered mosques illuminated so the skyline appeared scattered with stars.
Some Al-Azhar scholars also credit Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Taleb as one of the earliest to decorate mosques with lights.
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