Foods exchange" culture of clans' societies

MUHAMMAD AL-ARAB-ASMAHAN OMAR/ AL-TABQA

Al-Tabqa area in the holy month of Ramadan preserves Ramadan customs and traditions that flourish in this holy month, the exchange of food dishes among neighbors, friends and relatives, or as al-Tabqa's residents call them "taumah", which gives warmth and affection, strengthens relations between neighbors and carries the best meanings of generosity and love.

The boys would have to exchange "Taumah" between the houses a few minutes before Iftar. For sweets, they were limited to "al-Mushabak" and "al-Siaiel" (bread rolls of thick sheet bread added to the Arabic ghee, sugar as desired) the Ramadan table in each house of al-Tabqa contains of different types of food, in a lane of al-Tabqa's lanes may be the table has the same kinds of food in each house.

One of the moralities of Ramadan month to which al-Tabqa residents has committed is to roast the various types of meat. Most of al-Tabqa's inhabitants do not roast meat at home, fearing the feelings of the poor this month, and those who do not have the ability to buy meat, they are limited to eating roasts by buying them ready from restaurants.

One of the habits also, maintained during this holy month is to slaughter the sacrifices on the souls of their dead and distribute them to the poor and the needy, and this habit still exists in some of the rich houses.

The "licorice" plays a vital role on the tables during the holy month of Ramadan, as it can be considered the official drink of this holy month, although it is not exchanged between neighbors like food, but it is associated with our minds and our lives in the hot summer and Ramadan month, especially that licorice grows a lot in al-Tabqa area where it growing in barren land without care, these lands cover large areas of al-Tabqa area.

The children were not isolated from the atmosphere of Ramadan. The parents were keen to accustom young children to fasting and follow the method called "deer fasting" where they encourage the child to fast from the beginning of the day to noon and give some money to encourage him and the next day to noon prayer and so to fast full day.

H/S

ANHA