Ramadan decorations in Syrian homes 

Decorating cities and villages is a habit  handed down from one generation to another, and it is, as specialists in folklore affirm, one of the ancient Syrian customs.

The habit of decorating cities in the past was associated with many occasions. Houses were decorated to celebrate victory over enemies, and this custom continued in later historical stages on national or religious occasions.

Ramadan Fanous ( lantern) in the villages of the Syrian countryside in the past had a special function as its lighting  informed people of the arrival of the time for Iftar and Suhoor, because the houses of the villages were far from each other and spread over large areas. Families used to  watch the minaret of the mosque when it was lit, as it indicated the start of the time for breaking the fast, then it was extinguished until the time of Suhoor. The imam of the mosque returns to light it to inform the people that the time for the pre-dawn meal has begun.

The Fanous was also used to light the people’s  path in the evening when moving between nearby villages to visit the homes of clerics in those villages, because it was a meeting center for them with the intention of reviving the blessed nights of Ramadan in an atmosphere of spirituality that expressed the noble Syrian human values.

Decorations have multiplied and developed over time until they became a complete industry. Some factories like the glass factory and  traditional craft workshops,  allocated part of their products for use as  decorations. The decorations’ designs, sizes and colors became more varied and modern. They have also become a source of livelihood for talented young men and women through the manufacture of decorative products and marketing them through social media

Ramadan decorations are traditional crafts whose manufacture has evolved with technological development, and has moved from primitive handcraft to a sophisticated industry that has local and foreign markets.

This decoration is desirable in foreign countries as well, because it carries a spiritual symbolism shared between societies, which is what was   witnessed recently in a square in London on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

China is considered one of the competitors  that  invaded the world with their products similar to the traditional Damascene industry, but this competition will not affect our traditional industry if it is given the necessary importance as a culture and historical heritage.

Making joy despite the harsh conditions and preparing for a holy month that visits people once a year is what made many Syrian families tend towards  Ramadan decorations, to become part of a modern social ritual.

In previous years, the streets and squares, especially in the Souk Al-Hamidiyeh, Al-Asrouniya, Al-Jazmatia in Al-Midan, and other areas were decorated to celebrate the holy month. But what is noticeable in recent years is the decoration of the homes with the availability of new and different forms and techniques that combine wood, beautiful lighting, and beloved cartoon characters.

Inas Abdulkareem