(MENAFN – Daily News Egypt) The month of Ramadan has been associated with a number of customs which differ from other months and add joy to Egyptian houses and streets. People still cling to the revival of these old customs because they became rituals related to the holy month. Among these are the “Ramadan Lantern” which families are keen to acquire and decorate houses, shops, and balconies with. Lantern means lamp and is called Fanoos in Arabic.
But the question here is about the origin of the lantern, which was used by people as a special means of lighting especially when going to mosques at night and then it transformed into a Ramadan tradition.
In Islamic history, you find that Egyptians are the first to invent the idea of the “Ramadan Lantern” where it dates back to the era of the Fatimid state to then move from Egypt to all countries of the world. The Fatimid caliph used to go out on the night before Ramadan along with children, each of them carrying a lantern to light the way as they sang in celebration for the holy month. In another story, one of the Fatimid caliphs ordered the lighting of mosques throughout the month of Ramadan with lanterns and candles. It is also reported that lanterns were used by women on their way to the mosques, and they are led by a young man, so that the passers-by will notice that there are women on the road, and give them right of way.The origin of the lantern was associated with the presence of the Mesaharaty who walked the streets, calling on sleepers to wake up to eat the suhoor (last evening meal before fasting). At that time, he walked the streets with a young child carrying a lantern.
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