The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a festival: Ramadan Festival – also known as Sugar Feast. A party where families and friends come together and enjoy delicious dishes. What do Ramadan and Ramadan Festival stand for, and what is mainly served during the Ramadan Festival?
Ramadan: time of fasting
Ramadan is a period of fasting according to the Islamic faith. Because the Islam is based on a lunar calendar, and not the Gregorian calendar, Ramadan falls at a different time each year. In 2021, Ramadan will be in the evening from April 12 to May 12.
During Ramadan, no eating, drinking, smoking and sexual contacts are allowed between sunrise and sunset. The purpose of this fasting period is to come to (self) reflection, to purify the soul and to appreciate what you have. Not only materially, but also to reflect on the people who are important to you in your life.
Eating during Ramadan
Eating and drinking is allowed between sunset and sunrise. Many Muslims get up before sunrise during this period to eat a good meal.
The Ramadan Festival
Ramadan ends with a prayer, then the Ramadan Festival (Eid al-fitr) begins. In the BeNeLux countries this festival is also known as ‘Suikerfeest’: Sugar Feast.
The Ramadan Festival is an exuberant party where everyone greatly enjoys the wide range of sweet snacks. Often the party lasts several days and visits are paid to neighbors, family, but the deceased are not forgotten either.
Sweets
The most famous served during the Sugar Feast is baklava. Made from phyllo dough and filled with almonds, walnuts, sugar and honey. Of course the date is indispensable – whether or not processed in a biscuit – the Chebakia (traditional honey biscuits, click here for recipe) or one of the many variants of an almond-coconut cookie.
Not only sweets come by during the Ramadan Festival, savory dishes are also welcome. These are mainly dishes with couscous and taijines with meat.
Need inspiration? Take a look at this site: https://www.ramadanrecepten.nl/
‘Suikerfeest’ in the Netherlands
Ramadan and the Ramadan Festival are celebrated worldwide, by all Muslims, including those who live in the Netherlands. According to the figures from Statistics Netherlands approximately 5% of the population adheres to the Islamic faith. That is roughly 850,000 people in the Netherlands – a large target group!