Ramazan, Ramadan, and the Ramazan Drummers
Category: Turkish Culture
Author: Ben Densin

A drummer wakes up the faithful every morning during the month of Ramazan, so they can eat before the fast begins.

Question: While Ramadan is celebrated yearly in the Muslim World, Turks call it "Ramazan." What's the difference?

Answer: There is no difference between Ramadan and Ramazan at all. Ramazan is the Turkish version of Ramadan which is originally an Arabic word. Some words of Islamic culture might vary slightly from one language to another.

Ramazan is also a very popular name for Turkish men. Baby boys born in the month of Ramazan are usually named Ramazan. With the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan, there are some changes in the daily lifestyle throughout the country. It is observing the cultural traditions more than a change in the daily lifestyle.

One of the most popular traditions is the Ramazan drummers. Drummers have been a part of Turkish traditional culture year round, but are only seen now during the month of Ramazan, the fasting month for Moslems. Thr drummer is a "human alarm clock" and is still important during Ramazsan. Foreigners who don't understand the custom may be quite confused as to why they're waking up the entire neighborhood!

The drummer starts to stroll and beats his drum in the streets around 3 a.m. That begins the Sahur, the morning meal before sunrise, awakening the believers so they may rise and eat before fasting time at dawn. Some drummers also sing while beating their drums. The custom allows the cook of the household, usually the mother, to wake up first, prepare the meal, then wake the rest of the family.

In cities, every district has a drummer. At the end of the fasting month, on the first day of Bayram, also called the Sugar Festival, the drummers do their drumming during the day, knocking on every door in their district. That's when the believers tip the drummers for the service they have provided during the fasting month.

Istanbul alone has about 1,000 Ramazan drummers, and there is a big rivalry among them. They try to sing the best songs and wake the people at the most appropriate time. In order to be able to do that, some drummers are motorized now. They work as a two-man team riding on a motorcycle. While one of them drives the motorcycle, the other rides in the back seat beating his drum. That way, they can cover lots of ground in a short time.

In the evenings, a cannon is fired in most of the cities and towns to let those fasting know that it is time to break the fast. I have been in restaurants where Turks will order food, then wait as the food sits in front of them. When they hear the "boom" of the cannon, they all start eating.

Another way of knowing the fasting time is over is by looking at the minarets on the mosques (called "cami" [jah-mee] in Turkish). In the evening, minarets are illuminated when the fast is broken and kept lit until the fast begins again the next day.

If you're wondering what the drummers sing while they drum, here's an example of one drummer's song as he walks through town to collect his tip after Ramazan ends:

I got out into the street with the name of God
Giving greetings to the right and the left
Oh my stately gentle folk
Blessed times are upon us.
Your drummer has come to the door
He gives greeting to everyone
Don't be upset my dears
He's come to collect his tip.
This month is called Sultan month
Sweet with cream and honey is eaten.
It's been a custom for all time
That a tip is given to the drummer.

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