Sarah Sharaby

Saudi Gazette

YOU know it is Ramadan in Egypt when you see the lights of the Fanoos illuminating streets, stores, and homes.



“Fanoos” is Greek for lantern and is definitely a very captivating symbol of Ramadan. The lantern, which sends out a feeling of love, peace and happiness, is a symbolic welcome to the holy month of Ramadan.



The tradition of the Fanoos has passed on from generation to generation and is a practice that will never be forgotten. No child in the streets of Egypt can be seen without his or her traditional Fanoos made of tin and colored glass.



“Wahawi ya Wahawi” (metaphorically meaning the light of fire) is a historical song that generations of children in Egypt sing while carrying their Fanoos in the streets.



There are many stories as to how and when this Egyptian custom started. One story has it that the first time it was used by the Egyptians was when Fatimid Caliph Al-Mo’eez entered Cairo at night during the month of Ramadan and was welcomed by people carrying torches and candles. 



To protect the torches from the wind, they put them on a wooden stand and enfolded it with leather.



Another story states that Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim ordered all sheikhs to hang lanterns on their mosques to illuminate the streets of Cairo during Ramadan. Since then, the Fanoos has been associated with the holy month.



A third tale states that during the Fatimid time, women were only allowed to leave their houses during the month of Ramadan.



To be able to do so, they had to be accompanied by a little boy holding a lantern, as a form of announcement that there is a woman coming.



This was a message for men to move out and make way for the woman arriving. Even though its history dates back to the Fatmids, the Fanoos is still a long held tradition among most Egyptians.



The hanging of the Fanoos during Ramadan will always be associated with bringing a feeling of joy and cheerfulness to Egyptian homes.