Eid and Ramadan in Ghana

It is called over a microphone at a mosque. (A mosque is a Muslim place of worship.) Muslims are called to prayer five times a day.

Then, Mr. Mumin explained how Muslims break their fast. "At 6:00 PM, you can break your fast by drinking warm water and eating fruit," he said. "Do not eat too much too soon, or it will upset your stomach." A date is a fruit that many Muslims use to break their fast. To me, dates taste like sweet raisins! Once your stomach settles, you can eat a full meal.

I asked Jalil, a student of mine, if he thinks fasting is challenging. He shook his head. "No," he said. "If you put your mind to it, it is not difficult."  

I also asked my students what they do during Eid. They said, "We celebrate with friends and family and pray at the mosque." In other words, Eid is a big celebration that lasts about three days! This past Friday, people played instruments and marched in groups in town. Many sellers on the sidewalk sold items for Muslims to wear or use. These included long gowns, sandals, prayer beads, caps and Qurans. (The Quran is the Muslim holy book, like the Bible for Christians.) I even found one table piled high with dates! All of these festivities marked the end of Ramadan. Watch here!

Why does the community have this tradition?:

I asked a yellow-yellow driver why they celebrate Ramadan. "It is a time of charity - helping others - and reflection," he replied. During Ramadan, extra time is given to studying the Quran and praying.

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