One of the ways we can get the next generation of Muslims about Ramadan is to teach Ramadan facts for kids. Young minds are insatiably curious, and the Blessed Month is the most special time of the year for the faithful. So there’s so much for them to learn!

How many Muslims celebrate Ramadan? And how do they do so? What particular expressions of the joy and servitude of Allah in this month will one find in various cultures? Let’s start exploring!

 

Why Should We Teach Our Kids Fun Facts About Ramadan?

We should teach our kids fun facts about Ramadan because we have no time to waste–it is just around the corner! As the month approaches, many of us have already begun preparations for the holy month. In addition to worship, routines, and meal plans, parents need to remember the important aspect of getting our children excited about Ramadan!

The more our children are excited about Ramadan, the more likely they are to value and take full advantage of the holy month. What better way to get our kids excited than to share exciting Ramadan facts for kids recorded classes from our Digital Ramadan Camp?

The Digital Ramadan Camp, which is also available for streaming for free on YouTube, features talented guest speakers, fun facts about Ramadan, engaging and interactive activities, and storytime with Noor Kids books! Listening to previous years’ classes can inspire your children to look forward to this year’s Ramadan Camp as well!

You can watch each video from last year’s Digital Ramadan Camp playlist anytime, anywhere by clicking here. 

 

 

10 Ramadan Fun Facts 

 

Below is a list of 10 Ramadan fun facts you can share with your children: 

 

1. 1.8 billion Muslims celebrate Ramadan each year! 

One of the coolest Ramadan facts for kids is that around 1.8 billion Muslims around the world celebrate and observe the month of Ramadan each year! To put that in perspective, Christmas, which is just one day and often divorced from religious servitude, is celebrated by 2.3 billion people. 

So Muslim kids who live in the West may be interested to know that, globally, their religious month is celebrated almost as widely as the biggest Christian holiday of the year. And just knowing how many people are celebrating with us builds a sense of confidence and unity with an international community of Muslims!

       2. Muslims in Turkey wake up for suhoor with the sound of drums!

Muslims in Turkey are woken up for suhoor by dedicated drummers who, donned in the traditional Ottoman garb of a fez and a vest, march up and down the streets drumming! 

This practice is quite common in many Arab countries as well, wherein there are dedicated individuals who wear traditional outfits, take an instrument (most commonly a drum), and walk the streets to wake their fellow Muslims to eat suhoor before Fajr prayer. 

       3. Streets in Egypt are decorated with lanterns. 

Ramadan is celebrated in the most colorful way in Egypt. The streets are decorated with colorful lanterns for the purpose of spreading joy and lifting spirits. This tradition dates back to the 10th-12th centuries during the rule of the Fatimid Caliphate. Whenever a local leader visited Cairo, the people of Cairo held candles in the dark streets to welcome them. 

Eventually, these small candles became intricately painted lanterns (fanous) that are sometimes held in the hands of children as they sing and walk down the streets! Of the 10 fun facts about Ramadan, this is one of the easiest to use for creative ideas at home!

 

       4. Special purification ritual in Indonesia 

Muslims in Indonesia perform a purification ritual called padusan before the start of Ramadan as a way to cleanse the body and spirit for fasting and prayer. Before Ramadan begins, it is common to find Indonesian Muslims bathing in natural pools and springs to purify themselves!

In general, Muslims place a high importance on cleanliness and keeping our bodies and souls clean. We are encouraged to make wudu before every prayer, and a ritual bath called ghusl to purify our bodies. For Indonesian Muslims, this importance of purification is taken to the next level in a way that signals to the significance of Ramadan and how important it is for Muslims to enter the holy month both physically and spiritually pure.

 

       5. Chaand Raat celebrations in Pakistan 

The night before Eid ul Fitr, known as Chaand Raat, or “night of the crescent moon,” is celebrated by Pakistani Muslims in preparation for Eid. This tradition is particularly exciting because it cannot be celebrated until it is ascertained that Eid will occur the next day, meaning, the crescent moon is sighted. That only adds to the excitement, as Chaand Raat often occurs at the last minute, making for spontaneous late-night festivities.  

So what do these celebrations look like? Colorfully decorated and lighted stalls are set up in marketplaces where women go with their families to buy bangles that match their Eid clothing and have their hands decorated with henna. You can check out an NYU lesson plan on teaching students about Chaand Raat in an Urdu learning context here. 

 

       6. Fireworks light the sky in Bosnia 

Fireworks light the night sky to mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan in Bosnia. This display welcomes the Blessed Month with excitement and festivity. 

Many countries celebrate their days of independence with a beautiful fireworks display. However, Muslims in Bosnia deem the start of the month of Ramadan as their most important and special occasion by lighting fireworks. 

 

      7. Muslims worldwide break their fast with dates 

While Muslims from different countries traditionally eat unique and different cuisines based on their culture, a common practice around the world is breaking the fast with dates. 

The Prophet Muhammad (S) famously broke his fasts with dates, and Muslims around the world follow his example and do the same. Universally, dates are the most common choice of Muslims for breaking the fast, and there are many benefits to doing so, as they are packed with vitamins, energy, antioxidants, and more!

Check out our article with more exciting fun facts about Ramadan and 10 Healthy Ramadan Meals in a Mason Jar. 

 

       8. Halal trick or treating in UAE

On the 15th of Sha’ban, the month before Ramadan, Muslims in the United Arab Emirates celebrate a special day called Haqq al laila. On this day, children dress up in bright, colorful clothing and go around their neighborhoods asking for sweets and nuts. Often compared to trick-or-treating in the West, this tradition serves as a way to welcome the month of Ramadan two weeks in advance. 

Of course, one of the important things to know about Ramadan is that Muslims do not need to imitate the traditions of other religions. We have our own beautiful practices and traditions passed down to us from Allah (SWT) and the Prophet (S). Naturally, comparisons are often made simply to nurture understanding, relations, and empathy between cultures. 

 

       9. Mheibes night game in Iraq 

After iftar, breaking the fast at sunset each day, men in Iraq gather around the neighborhood to play a game called Mheibes. In this game, the men gather into two groups of 40 to 250 players at a time. The game consists of passing a ring to team members discreetly while players of the opposing team have to guess which member has the ring 

This game, though simple, has been a part of Iraqi Ramadan tradition for generations. 

 

       10. Traditional Ramadan foods from around the world 

1. 1. Muslims in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh typically eat pakoras, or fried fritters, at iftar. Pakoras are made with onions potatoes, cilantro, eggplant, and other veggies and spices dipped in a flavorful coating. 
   2. Lebanese Muslims commonly eat lentil soup 
   3. Muslims in Somalia eat sambusa, which is very similar to the Indian samosa! This tasty treat is a deep-fried pastry filled with meat, lentils, vegetables, or fish and dipped in chutney!
   4. Muslims in Jordan and Lebanon commonly drink Tamar Hindi, a tart but sweet juice made of pressed tamarind plant. 
   5. A staple of the Ramadan iftar table for Tunisian Muslims is shorba, a lentil soup made of vegetables, spices, and oats and seasoned with garlic, cumin, and coriander. 

You can read more about Ramadan meals in the Food Heritage Foundation article on traditional Ramadan foods. 

Teaching Ramadan Facts for Kids

Teaching Ramadan facts for kids to our children shouldn’t be limited to the lessons found in Islamic teaching tools. We have to get our kids excited about Ramadan, and thus, we must also teach them fun facts that put the month in perspective and get them excited about being a part of a huge community!

Other engaging ways you can teach your child Ramadan facts include taking interesting stats and cultural expressions and repurposing them in the form of popular games like:

• Jeopardy
• Bingo 
• Scavenger hunts 
• Crossword puzzles and word searches
• Wall posters 

The bottom line is– whatever activity you and your child decide to do should be fun and engaging! 

How do you plan on teaching your children about Ramadan fun facts? Comment below!