Muslim
Minorities in Ramadan: Tradition or Transformation?
08/11/2004
Across
the world Muslims are celebrating Ramadan: the month of spiritual purification,
of physical abstention for transcendental rewards. For many it is also a month
of cultural expression and family bonding. Across the world Muslims enjoy
national and local Ramadan traditions, from special food, traditional
decorations and a wide array of artistic and musical events. Ramadan is a month
of religious as well as cultural celebration.
This
Ramadan IslamOnline.net Art & Culture page explored the ways in which Muslim
minorities in different parts of the world participate in the ‘culture’ of
Ramadan. We asked our correspondents to reflect on the ‘traditional’ and the
‘novel’ in how Muslim minorities culturally express the shared meaning of
Ramadan. Have minorities faithfully preserved the traditions of their countries
of origin or have their new lives and environments gradually colored and
reshaped these traditions, integrating them into the cultural fabric of the new
home?
With
the following contributions we have attempted to provide a dimension of the
answer to this complicated question:
