Ramadan in Singapore -- Ramadan for Kids, Global Learning for Kids & Asian Pacific American Heritage Blogs Series & Giveaway

For my final 2016 post for Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month I thought I would combine it with our Global Learning for Kids exploration of Singapore and kick off our Ramadan for Kids Blog Hop. Did you know about 15% of the Singapore population is Muslim (according to 2010 statistics)? There are 69 mosques in Singapore.  (Source) The Sultan Mosque or Masjid Sultan is considered one of the most important mosques in Singapore.

Nightfall at Sultan Mosque By Erwin Soo from Singapore, Singapore [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Ramadan traditionally is a month long time of prayer and abstinence for Muslims. It occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and thus moves around our calendar. This year it begins on Monday, June 6th and lasts until July 5th. During this month Muslims traditionally fast from sunrise to sundown.  Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is done to build self-discipline and direct one's heart away from distractions as well as cleanse one's soul. (Source)  Unlike some countries all of Singapore does not fast or observe Ramadan. However the Muslims pray and attend mosque and the bazaars have some special treats that are only available during the month of Ramadan. Another interesting thing is it is popular for restaurants to offer Break Fast Buffets. If you are visiting Singapore you may want to look into this to make sure you avoid the rush. The mosques also often are food distributors for breaking the fast. (Source)

Ramadan in Geylang Serai By yeowatzup from Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany (Ramadan, Geylang Serai, Singapore) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

In the Malay quarter in Geylang Serai lights are put up during Ramadan in preparation of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festival which is the celebration of the end of Ramadan. The bazaars in this quarter sell everything from curtains, to clothes and food and festivity treats during this time. For the first morning of Hari Raya Aidilfitri families often wear new clothes in the same hue and attend service at the mosque. Then they go to visit their parents and other relatives. It is traditional to ask elders for forgiveness for wrongdoings from the year. Often the visits include home-cooked meals. Meals may include beef randang (spicy beef stew), kueh and ondeh-ondeh (for dessert). (Source)

Ondeh-Ondeh Kueh By ProjectManhattan (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

For more of our exploration of Singapore as well as the Global Learning for Kids Singapore link party, check out here.

Multicultural Kid Blogs is proud to be hosting its second annual Ramadan for Kids blog hop, where bloggers come together to share ideas for teaching kids about and honoring Ramadan. Don't forget to check out our series from last year and follow our Ramadan board on Pinterest for even more ideas and link up your own posts below!

Participating Blogs

ArabBaba on Multicultural Kid Blogs

 All Done Monkey 

 Kid World Citizen

 A Crafty Arab 

Creative World of Varya

  Crafty Moms Share 

 Global Advocate Jr. 

Colours of Us 

 La Cité des Vents
Words 'n' Needles

An InLinkz Link-up

This post is also a Global Learning for Kids post. Please visit this post for the link party on Singapore (so there won't be too many things going on here).

 

Welcome to our third annual Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Blog Series and Giveaway! Follow along all month for ideas about sharing with kids the rich cultures of this vast and varied region. Also, be sure to enter the giveaway below and link up your posts on our main page

. For even more ideas, visit our blog hops from last year and 2014.

May 2 Pint Size Gourmets on Multicultural Kid Blogs

May 3 The Art Curator for Kids

May 6 Creative World of Varya

May 9 Crafty Moms Share

May 12 All Done Monkey

May 13 Colours of Us

May 16 Bicultural Mama

May 17 Wise Owl Factory

May 23 Miss Panda Chinese

May 27 Pack-n-Go Girls on Multicultural Kid Blogs

May 30 Crafty Moms Share

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