FANUS – The Lanterns of Ramadan Of all Islamic countries, Egypt was the first, and still the only one that maintains the tradition of the lantern in the month of Ramadan. In the past, lanterns were made of copper and a candle was placed inside. Over the years, tin lanterns and colored glass have emerged. Nowadays, the lanterns are very modern, made of plastic and other materials, with batteries that make them rotate, illuminate, emit songs. The children of old, before the electric light, would go out into the streets of Egypt after breakfast, carrying their lanterns and gather to sing or play, or even visit an elderly relative who told them stories. Nowadays, people just hang lanterns on balaconas (balconies) to adorn the houses (just as Christians do in Brazil for Christmas). As for the origin, there are many stories about the lanterns of the month of Ramadan. One such story comes from a Fatimid caliph who went out on the streets at night to explore the new moon of the month of Ramadan, and the children went out with him to light his way. Each child held a lamp, singing beautiful songs to express happiness at the arrival of Ramadan. . There is also another story about the Caliph of the Fatimid era: He wanted to light up the streets of Cairo every night of the month of Ramadan, and ordered all mosques to put lamps and light them with candles inside them. Another story, which was also portrayed in the Fatimid era, said that women were not allowed to leave their homes except in the month of Ramadan. Then a boy carried a flashlight and, walking in front of his wife, he warned the men that a woman would pass down the street to get them out of her way. Another possible source is that when the fatigued Moez Ledin Allah arrived in the city of Cairo from the west on the fifth day of Ramadan in the year 358 after the Hijrah, the Egyptians welcomed him to a large festival, in which men, women and children welcomed him holding decorated lamps to light his way (since he had arrived at night and at the time there was no electric light). The lamps lit the streets until the last day of the month of Ramadan, when he left Cairo. There are many possible origins and therefore the Ramadan fanus or lanterns are also part of the “folklore” for the Egyptians. Symbol of joy in the month of Ramadan. Here where I live is a small town, in the countryside, very simple. My neighborhood is a Christian neighborhood, as I always mention in my posts, and in Ramadan it’s easy to identify Muslim houses, because they all put Ramadan lanterns on balconies (balconies), plus flashers and pennants, the that makes it easier for the Masaharati (who I’ll talk about later…) Did you like the lanterns and you’re not in Egypt? Do not worry! Several friends sell in Brazil and even export