Introducing children to different cultures and various festivals is a great way for children to understand more about the world around us. Ramadan is one such festival that is rapidly approaching. What better way to introduce the topic of Ramadan in your setting than with these beautiful Ramadan-themed crafts?
Fun Facts about Ramadan
- Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting.
- It is also a time for introspection, prayer, and the reading of the Qur’an.
- The dates for Ramadan change every year as this is dependent on the Islamic calendar and therefore the moon cycle.
- It is followed by Eid (Eid-al-Fitr), a magnificent holy celebration that marks the end of the month-long fast.
Ramadan Craft Activities to Try
Here are two of our favourite craft activities to do this Ramadan.
Hanging Lanterns
‘Fanous’, also known as Fanous Ramadan or Ramadan Lanterns are traditional lanterns that are used to decorate streets and homes during the holy month of Ramadan. Typically made of glass and metal, the decorative lanterns trace back over a thousand years ago. Fast forward to current times, they are a common symbol associated with this special holy month and symbolise hope and light.
For this craft you will need:
How to make your lantern…
- Start by printing out our free lantern downloadable template. Cut around the template and place it onto the black card.
- Next, trace around the lantern shapes and cut around the edges and windows. Then, glue strips of cellophane to cover the windows.
- Finally, carefully punch a small hole at the top of the lantern using a pencil or scissors.
- To finish your craft, simply hang from a length of string or thread or thread multiple pieces to create your own lantern banner.
Crescent Moon & Star
The crescent moon and star is a widely recognised symbol of Islam and has many meanings. In ancient times, navigation along trade routes often occurred during the night and depended on the position of the moon and stars. As the Islamic calendar follows the lunar calendar, it is tied to the phases of the moon and so the crescent moon also marks the beginning of a new month.
This easy crescent moon and star craft is a fantastic activity for teaching kids about Ramadan and injecting festive spirit into your setting.
You will need:
- Crescent moon and star template (FREE download) or our Star Cut Outs
- Glitter card
- Glue
- Pencil
- Scissors
- String or thread
How to make your craft:
- Start by printing and cutting out each crescent moon and star shape from the template.
- Next, place the moon and star shapes onto the glitter card, trace the shapes and then carefully cut around the edges.
- Then, simply punch a hole at the top and bottom of each shape using a pencil or scissors.
- Finally, thread a piece of string thread through the holes and you’re done!
We would love to see what fun craft activities you get up to this Ramadan! For a chance to be featured on our feed don’t forget to upload your wonderful creations to Instagram and tag us in your post, making sure you use the hashtag #ExploreWithEYR.
