Muslim families mark Ramadan, raise cultural awareness in area
As Pictou County’s Muslim community continues to grow, more non-Muslims from the area are getting opportunities to learn and experience the culture.
Eid, the culmination of the month of Ramadan, is a particular time when friends and family gather to share food and celebrate.
Kailee Brennan, who has served as newcomer services coordinator for Pictou County Safe Harbour says that cultural exchange – including refugees from Syria resettled to Canada by Pictou County Safe Harbour – has benefitted everyone.
“I think it’s been a really positive experience, not just for the families, but for the community,” says Brennan. “For some of these families, it’s the first time that folks that have been born and raised in Nova Scotia are meeting people of Muslim faith. So it really takes away some of the mystery and unknowns about folks coming from different faith backgrounds than you when you actually meet real people.”
Pictou County Safe Harbour was formed in 2015 when awareness of the Syrian crisis was at the forefront of media coverage. Supported by Trinity United Church and including all community members, the organization has helped refugee families resettle and find new opportunities in Canada.
In February 2016, the first family arrived from Syria. Now, there are 11 families from Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo who have come to Pictou County.
According to Brennan, Pictou County Safe Harbour provides “a safe landing space” for families in need. While some new arrivals may choose to eventually relocate, others remain to raise families, start businesses and contribute to the community.
“That’s one of the great benefits,” says Brennan. “One of the Syrian families now runs a restaurant and it’s done really well, it’s lovely, and the food is amazing. It really just broadened everybody’s horizons.”
A WHOLE-COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Ramadan commemorates the revelation of scripture to the prophet Mohammed and involves a month of religious observances, including fasting.
Although celebrations are different around the world, the last day of Ramadan - Eid - is usually marked with family and friends gathering to share a special meal. Ilhem Dedekhani has been a Nova Scotia resident for 15 years, and sharing the celebrations of Ramadan with the wider community has always been part of the celebrations.
“We always have Ramadan potlucks,” says Dedekhani. “Before we opened the mosque, we held it with the Multicultural Association at the Trinity Church basement. People, of course, love the food - the food was always appreciated and loved by our friends. Sometimes it's strange for people to eat that late but we have even some friends who decided to observe the fast so that they so they can enjoy better.”
This year, Eid will fall on May 12 — it's usually marked between May 12 and 14, depending on the lunar calendar. Food is a highlight of Eid celebrations and some special treats are looked forward to all year. “I'm not a big fan of sweets, says Dedekhani. “But my family loves the baklava that we make. We make all kinds of sweets, but one of them is baklava. My children and my husband, they look forward to it. I actually don't make it during the year, because it's that special we keep it for Eid only.”
For the recent arrivals from Syria, Dedekhani says that the mosque that was built in 2018 as a place to gather and celebrate Ramadan, as well as a welcoming community to share it with, have been positive aspects of settling in Canada.
“The first families who came, at that time we didn't have the mosque and you know we didn't have that strong sense of being together during Ramadan, other than visiting each other once or twice during the whole month,” says Dedekhani.
“But now, with a mosque, it feels much better- we do get together pretty much every night for prayers. Obviously, there are changes there — nobody can deny that it's different than the way they would spend Ramadan back home with their close family members and friends, but it's been pretty good actually.”
STILL HELPING REFUGEES
With new immigrants enriching communities, and the need for refugees around the world still so pronounced, Pictou County Safe Harbour continues to work to help families begin a new life in Canada.
“The media and the public sentiment and sympathy towards refugee issues in 2015 was heightened and highlighted by a lot of the media attention that that crisis received,” says Brennan.
“But there are still refugees globally – across the world – and that number increases every single year with most of them not ever being able to be resettled to a third country."
Brennan hopes to see Canada's dedication to helping refugees continue.
"I think anyway that Canadians or other communities can stay involved in this. It’s a lot of work, but it’s really rewarding. And it’s just one way to make a little bit of dent in things on a personal level," she says.
“It’s a whole community effort, for sure.”