RUWAHAN

Ruwahan done ten days before the month of fasting (Ramadan). In this tradition a number of rites held according to tradition and custom in each of the respective areas or hamlets. The event starts from the show nisfu Shaban, a procession around the city, besrik (clean village) accompanied by small slametan ago kenduren at night. The next morning nyadran done, until it ends at the end of the day padusan just ahead of fasting. This tradition symbolizes the essence of purity and a sense of joy enters the fasting which is a form of individual and collective piety of faith.Ruwahan derived from the word "Ruwah" is the seventh month, and coincided with the month of Sha'ban Hijriyyah year. Ruwah own words have the root word "spirits", or the spirits of the ancestors.It is said that the spirits of the meaning of the word used this month as the month to commemorate the ancestors.

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Megengan

Tumpeng

Tradition megengan usually lasts a week before fasting. This tradition is carried out by sending food to family and neighbors. Type of food can be varied such as: rice cone, iwak ingkung, keper, thontho, gereh pethek, tempeh, and but three types of food that should not be abandoned is glutinous, compote, and apem. Each type of food has a certain meaning and significance.

Ketan, this food is a symbol of the close ties.

Compote, food prepared using sweet coconut milk, symbolizing the family relationship is always harmonious and happy.

Apem, meaning foods that have the willingness to forgive

Megengan tradition is proved not only to maintain social relationships but also helped turn the wheels of the economy. Community needs for food ingredients market raises megengan shocked students ruwahan towns in Java. Since the number of people gathered, and a festive atmosphere make this shocked the market into the exciting event, as well as in Semarang or Dhandangan Dugderan in Holy. No wonder this ruwahan tradition makes people who live outside the area, always longing for home or so-called homecoming ruwahan.

Nyadran

Nyadran is a pilgrimage to the grave to remind people of its origin (sangkan paraning of being) that the ancestors. Membersihkah Nyadran begins with the tomb and surrounding areas of weeds and trash and read tahlil and yasin pray to God that those who have gone Gusti always get a blessing from Allah SWT.

Nyadran itself comes from the word "sradha", which is a tradition started by Queen Tribuana Tunggadewi, the third king of Majapahit. At that time Kanjeng Queen wanted to make a prayer to the mother of Queen Gayatri, and the spirit of his ancestors who had been cremated at Temple Jabo. For this purpose dipersiapkanlah farrago dish to be donated to the gods. After the death of Queen Tribuana Tunggadewi, this tradition is also followed by King Hayam Wuruk.
In the Islamic religion spread by the Wali Songo, the tradition was later adopted into nyadran ceremony as it aims to pray for the parents in the afterlife. As mentioned in various hadith, that when a person has died and is in the nature barzah, then all the good deeds in the world being cut off except three things, namely perpetual charity, beneficial knowledge and a pious child prayer. Therefore, it is the duty of children and grandchildren to always pray for the souls of their ancestors who have died. It's just a dish that is made ​​no longer reserved for the gods, but as a means of alms to the poor.
In the event nyadran, various flowers sprinkled on the grave of those we love who they are, therefore, also called nyekar nyadran (sekar = flower). The beauty and fragrance of flowers became a symbol for always remembering all the beautiful and the good of those who have gone before.
This tradition ruwahan rite closed with padusan usually done after Dhuhr or Asr to cleanse themselves physically and mentally to enter the month of Ramadan.