Ramadan Kareem!

What have I been doing that I did not wrote a post? Well I have been stuffing my face with Katayef!!!!! If you do not know what it is please read this post Katayef.  After one year of waiting to eat this wonderful dessert I finally have the opportunity to eat it again. I have to thank my habibi because the first day of Ramadan he came home with a bag of katayef! So I have been making them and eating them for the past weeks!

For those of you who do not know what Ramadan is please check last year's post on the subject Ramadan. This year Ramadan started on July 7 so its been kind of an up and down time for Egypt with all that is going on in the Country but never the less you can see people united. Yesterday people took the streets again to protest against the Muslim Brotherhood and their terrorism tactics. I believe things are starting to look up!

The ex president was charge with treason, finally and people are starting to see a change. I think there is a lot at stake right now and I don't want to be political or anything but I just had to say what is going on right now. So one pretty neat thing I learned this Ramadan is that the Lanterns that they use to decorate during Ramadan started because the children use to play on the streets and there was no electricity by that time so all they had was a lantern.

After that it became tradition to use them. I in all honesty I'm in love with them! I believe they are beautiful and the different designs are just perfect! I believe I was destined to be here I mean I love everything that is Islamic art (I will write a post about this soon). Here are a few pictures of Ramadan decorations and lanterns.

Thank you for reading and following me! Until next post oh! I forgot I got interviewed this past week so that will be coming soon!!!

Ramadan

Well most of you probably don't know but in the Islam world is the month of Ramadan. I didn't know any of these until of course I came to Egypt and my habibi told me all about it. I am going to do my best to explain to you what is all about because is a very interesting month and for me is a mix of different holidays we celebrate as Christians.

Ramadan this year is from July twenty to August twenty. Ramadan is a month of spirituality, giving and family. Every Muslim fasts for the whole month from  dawn to sunset they abstain themselves from drinking water and eating. In this month they read the Quran and pray for those who are poor and have no food.

Traditionally they decorate the houses with lights and lanterns. Is for me a mix between the Holy Week and Christmas!! Is very festive and well there is a lot of food. Basically if you are fasting you wake up before dawn to eat your last meal this is called Sohour. Here you eat and drink water until dawn. After that they don't eat or drink anything until Iftar which is the time for eating.

If you are on the streets at the time of Iftar you will find people giving food and juice, Muslims believe that if they are the ones to give you the first food or drink when you are done fasting they will be blessed so basically they compete for the blessing by stopping cars and forcing food on you! LOL

This time is a time for giving and Egypt throws down the best at this time by giving to people who really need food or money. You can buy what they call a Ramadan bag or box which contains the following: Pasta, rice, oil, sugar, tomato sauce, tea, dates and many countless things. They give these to people who are in need.

Also you can see they make big places with tables and there you can go and eat for free. I am not talking about eating a sandwich no, no this people make real food and very delicious one and they don't care who you are once you are there they serve you food.

Is a month for giving and for being generous as well as to make peace with God. If you want to enjoy a good trip to Egypt and enjoy the great food and desserts as well as this generous atmosphere join us in Ramadan I am sure you will love it!

Thank you for reading and following me!