How We Spent Ramadan as Children

Let’s go back in time and remember how we spent Ramadan in our childhood.

Rabat – For Moroccans, whenever Ramadan approaches, a wave of excitement rolls over us, and we wait impatiently for its arrival. But as children, that excitement felt even stronger.

Even though we weren’t obligated to fast yet, we couldn’t miss suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) with family. It wasn’t really about fasting; it was about the atmosphere. We wanted to live every ritual to the fullest, because Ramadan only comes once a year.

Mornings meant school, but we arrived earlier than ordinary, as Ramadan seemed to sprinkle its magic over every corner of life. And once we got home, we rushed to the TV to watch cartoons before Maghreb.

Cartoons were part of the Ramadan magic. Channels like MBC 3 and Spacetoon transformed their programming into a Ramadan special, from ads, shows, to cartoons – all themed for the month.

And who could forget Qissass Al Anbiyaa show (the stories of the prophets), with its clay-made characters? Fascinating, wasn’t it? It felt so special, like the month itself. It’s one of the Ramadan highlights that we expect each year.

When were were still kids but old enough to understand what fasting meant, we joined our families in the ritual, but in a bit different – and funny way.

Childhood fasting often meant splitting a fasting day into two half-days. Combine them, and voilà: a full day of fasting… or at least that’s what our mothers told us. It was a clever trick to make us feel like grown-ups, capable of fasting like the elders.

As the Maghreb adhan (call to prayer) drew closer, everyone rushed to add the final touches to the ftour and set the table. Children helped too – or to be honest – our main mission was sneaking little tastes from the dishes being prepared.

We waited impatiently for Maghreb, not out of hunger, but anticipation. It was a magical moment: the whole family gathered around the table, ready to dive into the delicious Moroccan dishes laid out before us.

Ramadan television series were an essential part of the holy month rituals for the whole family. Once ftour was over, we would gather to watch our favorite shows, which slowly grew into cherished childhood memories.

When the Isha adhan sounded, we sometimes accompanied our parents to the mosque for taraweeh. But when children meet at a mosque, you can already guess what happens.

Some children – though not all – couldn’t fight the urge to play together. We’d start running around, whispering, and giggling near people deep in prayer. And that was usually the moment our parents decided we were better off staying home next time.

Ramadan as a child wasn’t just about rules or rituals, it was about excitement, curiosity, and soaking in every bit of the month’s magic.