The Blue Mosque welcoming Ramazan
It's 3am on the first night of Ramazan (or Ramadan outside of Turkey). I should be in bed trying to sleep, but because of my persistent jet lag, I keep getting up to pace the floors and look out the windows. It's cool night, the kind that signals the end of the blistering summer nights and cues the advent of fall.
Just a few minutes ago, leaning out the window, I watched the Ramazan drummer pass by. Beating his drum to wake up all the people who need to eat before sunrise, waiting for him reminded me of last Ramazan when Mel and I traveled to Edirne and woke up when we heard the drums. We leaned out the window and waited for the drummer to pass, as in Edirne the drummers are chosen according to their drumming talent and wear a flash uniform.
My drummers were two skinny kids in their late teens. One half-heartedly beat with no rhythm of enthusiasm, and the other walked beside him for support, security or just for the heck of it. Maybe he takes over when the other guy's arm gets tired, although that's hard to imagine with the lameness of his banging.
In Canada, this drumming job would be a serious undertaking. Businesses would hire a drummer and make him advertise their service or wares on his drum. He would drum well and wear something snappy. He would probably be interviewed for the local paper. He would be paid and at the end of the month, tipped -- like Santa.
People would also decorate for Ramazan. Twinkling Ramadan fairy lights would represent stars, and adorn ALL the mosques and most people's homes. Or we would put up green lights to represent the colour of Islam. We would make moon cakes and compose special songs.
No such stuff here though, although there is some special food that makes an appearance. The rounds of bread made with black sesame seeds is my fave. There is a big.... well for lack of a better word -"night market" in the Hippodrome next to the Blue Mosque. Little houses sell snacks, sweets, calligraphy on plates, and you can even get yourself photographed in Ottoman dress, sort of like the old west cowboy pictures in Canada. Last year there were coin operated air-hockey games set up, they made some serious coin off of Bulent and I. It's the most fun linked to a muslim holiday that goes on, although last year there was an article by some conservative in Today's Zaman English newspaper harshly criticizing the commercialism of the market.
This is my third Ramazan here. The first 3 days will be the worst, as everyone will attempt to fast, or suss out who is fasting. Some will start out with good intentions or guilt, and then one by one - fall off the wagon. By the second week only a few people I know will be fasting.
3:27. I MUST go and lay in that bed for a while and force myself to sleep. But first I'll go watch the drummer agin, he's passing by again on his return home. Good night!
