What does Ramadan mean?
In the Islamic calendar, the month of Ramadan is the ninth lunar month. The fifth pillar of the Islamic religion is fasting during Ramadan.
This holy month is a time for reflection, reading the Qur’an, and helping the poor, but the most important thing to do is fast from dawn to dusk, with some exceptions for the elderly, sick, children, women who are pregnant, and others.
During the month of Ramadan, you eat twice a day. The first meal, called “El Fitar,” is when you break your fast in the evening. The second meal, called “Al Sohor,” is before sunrise. You can eat and drink from the end of the fast until dawn.
Normal Life During Ramadan?
During the day, life goes on at the usual slow pace. Everyone is at work, but many restaurants and cafes are closed.
Many people think that you can’t get food or drinks, but that’s not true. Restaurants and cafes are open, especially in tourist areas where people know that most visitors don’t follow Islam.
Because of this, you can see all the sights in all of Egypt’s cities. Everyone is out having fun on the streets at night, the restaurants are open, and everything is full of life.
Egypt has many customs for Ramadan.
Traditions of Egypt on the Streets During Ramadan
Because Egyptians like to celebrate, there are many ways to celebrate on the streets of Egypt during Ramadan. Traditional Ramadan decorations in all Egyptian cities include white, blue, and red colours and beautiful lights that light up the streets and the night sky.
The Arabian Ramadan lanterns (called “Fanos” in Arabic) are the most well-known decorations for Ramadan. They are an Egyptian tradition and come in many different sizes and colours. Some are used to decorate houses, streets, restaurants, and cafes, while others with songs are used as games for children.
People say that lighthouses have been around since the Fatimid era, when the Fatimid caliph ordered them to be hung in the streets to light them up.
The tents of Ramadan, which are some tents in the street with a long table and a lot of chairs, are another tradition that shows the Egyptians’ sense of community. This is where the poor and everyone else can get a free breakfast.
The red, blue, and white fabrics in these Ramadan tents are decorated with Islamic and Egyptian designs, big lights, and even headlights.
During Ramadan, you can also see the drummer, who walks around with a drum before sunrise to wake people up and tell them to eat their “Al Sohor” meals before the fasting hours start. This custom dates back to the time of the Ottomans because it hasn’t changed and is still done in some streets of the country.
You can find more of these traditions all over Egypt, but they are especially popular in Old Cairo and Islamic “Fatimid Cairo,” such as in the street of El Muez, where you can enjoy traditional festivals, The Bazaar of Jan El Jalili, around the Mosques of Al Azhar and Al Hussein, and in some parts of Alexandria.
Food and drink that are common during Ramadan
Breakfast meals during Ramadan are the same as they are the rest of the year. This means that rice, soup, chicken, meat, and vegetables with tomato sauce are used. However, beans, eggs, cheese, and yoghurt are traditional for the “Al Sohor” meal.
But the month of Ramadan is known for its oriental desserts, especially “Kataif,” which is a pancake or dough filled with nuts or cream, “Konafa,” which is a thread-shaped dough, and many other desserts that are sold in all dessert shops and restaurants during the month.
Egyptian drinks during Ramadan include “Karkadeh,” which is made from the juice of a type of rose petal, “Kamar Eldin,” which is made from the juice of a dry apricot, “Tamr Hindi,” which is made from tamarind, and more oriental drinks. You can’t forget “tea,” which is the main drink after breakfast.
The Final Weeks of Ramadan
In the last few days of Ramadan, the celebrations change to get ready for Eid El Fitr, the Feast of Breakfast, which starts after the end of Ramadan and marks the start of breakfast and the new month. Different kinds of cookies are made in different ways and shapes in stores and people’s homes.
Egypt’s Ramadan With Egypt via travel.
Ramadan is a special time in Egypt. It is the best time to try all the Egyptian traditions that mix Islamic and oriental elements. This is why trips to Egypt or cruises along the Nile during this time are thought to be unique.
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