10-22-2004, 09:30 AM
as salam alykom
Ramadan in Egypt has a very special taste. I guess like it does in every other spot of the world. Sobhan Allah, there are some traditions to express the advent of Ramadan that starts taking place one week alomst before the month. For example, lanterns are sold so that children lit them and play in the evening. During my childhood, they were lit by a candle, we used to get those nice colorful small lanterns in which we install a candle and go around the house repeating a certain nasheed. Now they make them with bubls. In the small low class areas, people set very local and traditional ovens to make something called kunafa and Qatayef (special kinds of dough made in the form of small panckes or long thing threads). Of this kunafa and qatayef people make sweets that are only consumed during Ramadan. Also small stores start making special outlets to sell fava beans which is usually eatern for Suhur. Not only this but street peddlers go around midnight to sell fava beans. what really brings joy to my heart is when stores decorate their facad with small lights in preparation for the month and expressing joy for this blessed month.
Sobhan Allah
Insh a Allah on my next post I will tell u how was it during Umrah in Ramadan