Ramadan – a month-long observance for Muslims around the world – is a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection. It's also a time for families and communities to come together to celebrate and create traditions that are passed down from generation to generation. Traditions are a way of connecting us to our past and providing us with a sense of belonging, and they're especially important during times of difficulty or change.
For me, one of the most cherished Ramadan and Eid traditions in my family is making ma’amoul, a Middle Eastern cookie filled with dates or nuts. It's a tradition that I started when I was a teenager because my mother loved ma’amoul but we didn’t have a family recipe, despite her being part Arab. She had a Turkish mum and, within mixed families, we occasionally feel as if we have to pick and choose what remains as part of our cultures. But now, over a decade later, I created a-new-to-our-family-but-old-to-many tradition, which is a testament to the fact that traditions don't have to be something that's handed down to us, but rather something that we can create ourselves.
Another tradition created accidentally was in Ramadan 2020. Ramadan that year was unlike any other due to the pandemic, and it was difficult for many Muslims around the world to celebrate in the way that we were used to. Personally, I decided to create something fun to make the month more enjoyable. I started a social media series called #DateOfTheDay, where I shared a new date combination every day during Ramadan. It was a fun way to try new things and get my family involved by bonding over these fun combos. What started as a pandemic experiment became a tradition, in a sense, as it brought my family and friends together, and now, it's even turned into a book!
Creating traditions doesn't have to be a daunting task. It can be as simple as making a new dish or trying something new every year. It's about finding something that brings you joy and sharing it with people you care about. It's also important to remember that traditions can evolve and change over time, just like our families and communities do. By creating traditions, we're not only connecting with our past but also creating a sense of belonging and community for ourselves and future generations.