In Syria, Ramadan is not just a religious occasion, but a complete experience filled with life, where spirituality intertwines with ancient customs and traditions, creating exceptional atmospheres that distinguish this month from others.
As Ramadan approaches, homes and streets start preparing, with lights and lanterns shining, and markets bustling with activity as people rush to buy dates, qamar al-din, and nuts, while the scent of freshly baked pastries fills the air, signaling the start of a season of goodness and blessings.
At sunset, everyone eagerly awaits the moment of iftar, announced by the Ramadan cannon, a tradition still present in some cities despite the passage of time. Families gather around a table filled with dishes carrying the flavors of the past, starting with dates and qamar al-din, moving on to soups, fattoush, kibbeh, and ending with desserts dominated by qatayef and nash.
After iftar, mosques fill with worshippers for taraweeh prayers, while Ramadan nights extend between family and friends, conversations varying between memories and stories, accompanied by a cup of carcadé or Indian dates.
In the late hours of the night, the voice of the musaharati echoes through neighborhoods, the man who roams the streets with his drum, chanting traditional phrases to wake people up for suhoor.
Despite the prevalence of phones and alarms, many still enjoy hearing his call, as if it is an integral part of Ramadan's memory.
As dawn breaks, tranquility returns to homes, preparing for a new day filled with patience and worship.
In Syria, Ramadan is not just about fasting from food, but a celebration of life in all its details, where a spirit of social solidarity prevails, spreading tables of mercy and increasing charitable initiatives to help those in need, turning streets into spaces of love and unity.
It is a month that carries the essence of the past with the spirit of the present, where generations inherit customs that have made Ramadan in Syria an unforgettable experience, engraved in hearts no matter how times change.