Children’s First Fasting Experience in Algeria: Celebrations and Traditions | Dzair Tube Ramadan Series (07)
BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In Algeria, the initiation of children into the practice of fasting is marked by significant attention and care from their families. This is aimed at encouraging patience and fostering a commitment to this religious ritual, preparing them for a lifetime of observing the complete fasting month of Ramadan. In Algeria, this ritual is termed the ‘End of Innocence,’ symbolizing the transition to maturity and awareness.
Algerian children not yet obligated to fast begin their fast on the day preceding the night of the 15th day of Ramadan, known as the 14th of Ramadan, or on the night of the 27th, known as “Laylat al-Qadr” (Night of Power). For older children, fasting commences from the first day of Ramadan. A special drink, prepared with water, sugar, and lemon, is crafted for these children. It is presented in a vessel with a gold ring for girls or a silver one for boys, encouraging other children to follow suit. These preparations occur in a festive atmosphere, with the presence of parents, grandparents, and relatives, maintaining ancestral customs and traditions.
The fasting child adorns the finest traditional attire and sits among the attendees as a symbol of regality. After the Iftar (breaking the fast), a special evening is organized for the fasting child, featuring tea, various beverages, and a variety of sweets. Following the Iftar, the child’s grandmother or an elderly lady applies henna, sings, and imparts good omens. Celebratory practices vary across regions. For instance, some families offer the fasting child a sip of water mixed with orange blossom water at the first Iftar, followed by a single date. The child is not compelled to consume a specific meal; instead, the choice is left to them, and the parents must obediently follow their wishes.
In ancient Algeria, there was a unique tradition where grandparents would give both boys and girls large baskets. The children would then roam the markets, shops, and public places with these baskets. When the merchants saw these baskets, they immediately recognized that the owner was fasting Ramadan for the first time. They would then generously offer gifts to the children until the baskets were filled to the point where they could no longer be carried.
As for the province of Blida, it has its own way of celebrating its first-time fasting children. The girl preparing to fast takes a tour of the market with her parents, buying fasting supplies as if she were a bride about to be wed. During the celebration, sweets and nuts are poured over her head, and a pillow is placed under her feet as a royal gesture. After breaking the fast, she sits among the women wearing her finest dress. As for the boy, the head of the family often takes him out in the last hours before the call to break the fast, showing off his fasting to neighbors and friends. This aims to raise awareness in the child of the significance of their actions, instilling the virtue of fasting within themselves and encouraging them to cherish it as they should cherish prayer and other acts of worship.
In the southern regions of Algeria, a grand feast is organized, often accompanied by a small circumcision ceremony. The children’s hands are adorned with henna, and other children attending the festivity are encouraged to emulate the fasting child, reinforcing their ability to endure the challenges of fasting. In the Sahara region, specifically in Béchar, mothers prepare special dishes reminiscent of those made by grandmothers decades ago. One notable beverage is a local concoction derived from date juice, known as “Wazawaza,” aiding in overcoming thirst. The Saharan child wears the traditional turban, symbolizing the path from innocence to maturity. In regions like Hassi Messaoud, recognized as the ‘Petroleum Capital,’ mothers create special dishes, and a local drink is prepared from date palms. The child wears the ‘Amama’ typical of Bedouin headwear in the desert, and a white cloak signifies the end of the innocence phase, ushering in maturity and awareness.
In the southernmost provinces of Adrar, Ouargla, Ain Salah, and Biskra, celebrating this day is particularly special with the tradition of sacrificing animals. Families gather in the homes of their elders, often with grandparents present, turning the occasion into a small circumcision ceremony. The hands of the boys or girls are adorned with henna, and even other children present at the feast are encouraged and motivated to endure the hardships of fasting, which now requires significant patience and effort from the fasters.
Among the M’zabites, the family of the fasting child prepares a mixture called “Ziriza and Tkandourt,” a combination of fried wheat, dates, local ghee, and dried buttermilk. This dish, both food and sweet, is shaped into balls and placed in a terracotta bowl called “Aqdouh.” The child consumes one piece each day during Ramadan, and the remaining portions are distributed to young relatives and neighbors as a gesture of goodwill. In Mozabite regions, this occasion may coincide with a small circumcision ceremony, and the child’s hand is marked with henna, signifying the successful completion of their first fast.
Moving to the extreme west of the country, more precisely, the province of Tlemcen, the capital of Zianide and one of the most historic cities in all of Algeria, locally known as, ‘the town of cherries” and a must-visit destination in northern Africa for history nerds.
In Tlemcen, the immutable traditions during the month of Ramadan are jealously preserved. There is a tradition which remains very rooted in Tlemcenaean society that is the celebration of the first fasting of the child, especially girls. Since the immemorial time, the first fasting of children has been celebrated in the Tlemcenaean family as a major event and a family celebration.
Preparing children for their first day of fasting requires a whole series of measures and arrangements so that the little girl or boy could feel it and experience it as a memorial feast in his/her life, especially for girls.
A woman from Tlemcen explains to Djazairess: “We wake the girl up at night for the traditional Shour based on sweet dishes, usually Tagines with raisins and almonds, and henna is applied to her hands. The next day, the little girl will experience exceptional moments surrounded by careful consideration from all her family and neighbors. After, we dress her in a Kaftan, we adorn her with jewels like a princess or a bride and we take her to the photographer to immortalize the event.”
And to add: “After the Asr prayer, accompanied by her family, she is taken around the streets of the city while receiving gifts and delicacies. Passers-by do not remain indifferent to the passage of the princess and show off their generosity and kindness. There are those who give her money, others small symbolic gifts and some buy her traditional delicacies, such as; Zlabia and Harissa that the Algerians call Baklaoua or Chamia, depending on the region. At the time of the breaking of the fast, a very generous menu is prepared for her and the family intimately celebrates this girl’s first fast with the neighbors. These are unforgettable moments in Tlemcen which give this month of piety a more spiritual dimension.
The same ritual is well preserved and brought up to date in the Berbers in the province of Tizi Ouazou. When the fast is broken, the child climbs to the rooftop or currently on the terrace, and is usually served three hard-boiled eggs, dates, a traditional bread made from semolina and olive oil and a terracotta pot filled with water and in which discreetly a coin is slipped for the boy, or a silver jewelry for the girl.
As for the dishes prepared by families to celebrate their young children, they focus on traditional soups and sweets such as “Mahancha” (a circular-shaped sweet) and “Qalb al-Louz” (Algerian sweet). Additionally, children wear traditional clothing on their first fasting day, often clothes associated with the festive attire of that region, whether for girls or boys, topped with a “Sitr” (long coat). Furthermore, their hands are adorned with henna to express joy and happiness at this achievement within the family home.
To celebrate this significant transition in children’s lives during the month of Ramadan, families in eastern Algeria evoke distinctive customs and traditions. Among the most prominent is the full family’s readiness to congratulate the child during the call to the Maghrib prayer. They present the child with an Iftar, beginning with a bowl of milk in a ceramic vessel containing a silver ring, which the child drinks along with dates. This ritual symbolizes appreciation and dignity, with the silver ring representing purity and clarity. Families ensure the child feels the importance of their achievement, and some families even give gifts to their children.
In the eastern regions of Algeria, customs vary. In the province of Mila, for example, the celebration of a child’s first fast involves preparing a dish called “Tamina,” a traditional sweet made from flour, sugar, or honey, which is distributed to neighbors in the area. Additionally, young children are congratulated with a traditional drink called “Charbat,” prepared with lemon juice, distilled rose water, and sugar to celebrate the occasion. Gifts and coins are also presented, and preparations are made for a special Ramadan evening gathering attended by all family members, during which prayers are offered for the fasting child’s righteousness and success.
Meanwhile, the residents of Batna also celebrate in their own unique way, with their customs and traditions aimed at encouraging children to fast for the first time. They often purchase special food utensils for them, such as small pitchers, cups, and plates, in which they can enjoy their iftar meals and celebrate with joy. This becomes a motivating factor for them to fast. Children typically begin practicing fasting in their first year of schooling. Many families in Batna prefer to encourage their young children to fast during the middle of Ramadan, especially on the 27th day of the holy month. However, some families do not advocate for this postponement and instead prefer a different fasting approach, known as half-day fasting. In this method, the child is not required to fast for the entire day. When they feel extreme fatigue or thirst, they are allowed to break their fast openly in front of others, rather than pretending to fast while secretly eating and drinking. Therefore, it is advised that young children who are fasting for the first time, especially those around seven years old, should be reminded of the importance of not fasting excessively.
On his part, sociologist Khalid Belbahri points out that “honoring children who fast for the first time is a deeply rooted tradition in Algerian history. It highlights the value of Ramadan as a pillar of Islam for Algerian families, even in circumstances where the level of education and culture among Algerians was low due to the assimilation policies pursued by French colonialism.” He adds, “It is not necessary for families to require fasting from their children. Some children initially experiment with fasting for half a day, as attempts to imitate their fathers and older relatives.” Belbahri explains that these customs are part of an educational process to instill worship and reverence for it in the eyes of children, encouraging them to fast.
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