The most important celebratory,
ritualized occasions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Ramadan (Ramazan), Eid al-Fitr (Ramazanski Bajram), and Eid al-Adha (Kurbanski
Bajram). These occasions are commemorated with tables overflowing with
carefully prepared, often special foods.
Ramadan, the monthlong Muslim fast, is
the major event in the Bosniaks (Bošnjaci) ritual calendar. Believers do not
eat, drink, smoke, or have sex between sunrise and sunset. Families wake while
it is still dark and eat a larger-than-usual breakfest, often including types
of dishes served at midday and evening meals. Their evening meals also consist
of more dishes than usual and often include dessert, which is not part of
everyday meals. Ramadan is a period of intense devotional activity centered in
the mosque and with much socializing in homes in the evenings. The evening
meals, which break the day's fast, for example, are often shared with friends
and neighbors. Eid al-Fitr is the celebration of the end of Ramadan, and Eid
al-Adha is the commemoration, 40 days after Ramadan, of the saving of Abraham's
(Ibrahim) son through the sacrifice of a
lamb instead.
SEHUR AND IFTAR
Bosniaks would say prayer together during
the day and then invite one another to their homes for iftar meals.
During Ramadan, Bosnians honour takvim, a fasting period between prayers at dawn and sunset (from sehur – brekfast, to iftar – dinner, or better yet, from sabah – dawn, to akšam – sunset). As the Bosnians often say „You sehur at sabah“ – you have breakfast at dawn.
