Ramadan

Ramadan is here. It began on Wednesday, 10 July 2013. This will be my second time experiencing Ramadan. We will not be here for its full duration since we are moving to Hanoi before it ends.  I have had a few Muslim friends in the past and watched them observe Ramadan, but living in a Muslim country where respecting the rules of Ramadan is highly encouraged and socially enforced amongst all Americans is extremely different. Even though I am not Muslim and do not participate in Ramadan, I am happy to have had the opportunity to learn more about the practice from local Algerians working at the embassy. An Algerian teacher at the embassy sat down with me and openly shared her expertise about Ramadan. She broke down all the dos and don’ts during this time, its purpose, importance, and impact on both Algerians and foreigners. I thought it would be helpful to share with others the detailed information I received about this highly anticipated practice for the Muslim community. Please understand that the following information is from the perspective of a local Algerian who has been a French Muslim her entire life and participated in Ramadan in Algeria for over 40 years. 
 

• The significance of Ramadan is to think about the less fortunate people who do not have or cannot afford to buy food throughout the year. One should have gratitude for all they have during the course of Ramadan.  

• Ramadan lasts for 30 days from sunrise to sunset every day.

• During Ramadan you must not consume food or drink from sunrise to sunset. If a person drinks anything during the fast, including water, then it does not count.

• It is mandatory for all Algerians to observe the rules of Ramadan even if they do not choose to participate in it. If police find you eating publicly you can be arrested. Many Muslims feel you will be punished by God if you do not abide by it.

• Approximately 50% of Algerians do not practice fasting during Ramadan.

• Ramadan changes every year according to the lunar sighting which typically occurs 10 days earlier than the previous year. Last year, Ramadan started on July 20^th and this year it started on July 10^th.

• At the beginning of Ramadan, in the middle of the night, scientist will look for the lunar sighting. If it is not there, Ramadan will not begin that day (for example the 9^th) and instead it will begin on the following day (July 10^th). If the lunar sighting has appeared then Ramadan will begin on that initial day (July 9^th). This night that determines the start of Ramadan is called “The Night of Doubt.”

• This year, Ramadan will end on August 8^th.

• People are much more charitable during Ramadan. It is comparable to Americans being more charitable during Thanksgiving or Christmas.

• There is great significance to the 27^th day of Ramadan. Some Muslims decide to begin reading the Koran on the 1^st day of Ramadan and then complete it by the 27^th day of Ramadan. On this day, according to the religion, the sky opens up at 2:00 am or 3:00 am and those who possess the ability to see through the sky may have one wish that will come true. Typically no one except the scientists or saints can do this.

• Ramadan is a time of family gathering. Everyone will get together a few minutes before sunset and gather at each others' houses. For example, one family can invite others over to their home and those other people will not prepare any food in their home that day. It is similar to what Americans do for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. Cooking for Ramadan is similar to preparing an American holiday meal every night for 30 consecutive days, especially for the final day.

• Nightly meals during Ramadan are very detailed. You start with something sweet like a date or Turkish delight. This is said by the prophet to give blessings to your meal to start off Ramadan sweet. Then you must always begin with a warm soup to open up your digestive system. Afterwards people will have their main meals. All Algerians include a traditional dish called bourek, which are beef stuffed pastry rolls. You can prepare them a variety of ways. Another popular dish is lamb with sauce and dry fruit like plums, apricots and raisins. They will also consume salads, lots of bread, tea, and dessert.

• There are people who cannot afford to eat like this every night. A neighbor may offer to bring food to the home of those less fortunate. There is something comparable to the Red Cross, called “Croissant Rouge,” which is an organization that is set up to allow those who do not have food to come inside the food shelters and eat for free. There are many organizations like this throughout the country, but they are usually active only during Ramadan. Again, it’s a time of charity.

• Some people give money to the charitable organizations. More often than not, food is given because people sometimes steal the money, but will not steal the food.

• There is a particular bread that is very expensive and typically only sold during Ramadan. Most cannot afford it.

• Iftar is a religious observance of Ramadan and typically shared as a community. People gather to break their fast together. A huge meal consisting of many different dishes is prepared. Iftar is held on the final day of Ramadan.

• Grocery stores and markets remain open during the day. However, all restaurants are closed until a few minutes before sunset or some remain closed during the entire month of Ramadan.  

• In Algiers the cost of food rises during Ramadan. The increase usually starts a week prior. The law says that prices have to be kept the same or go down. However, there are inspections done every year around this time and many stores raise their prices. The inspector will write the employer a fine if that is the case. But the employer will not pay it because they will give the inspector free or reduced cost food instead and the inspector will then ignore the illegal action of the owner raising prices. It is as corrupt as it sounds. However, in France the cost of food is lowered during Ramadan to bring the people together. Different country, different rules.

• People usually visit the mosque to pray. Unfortunately, nowadays may people just go there to gossip or chat rather than pray.

• Throughout the streets you will see Ramadan tents put up. This is an Oriental-style tent called a kheima with colorful designs and conveys a club-type atmosphere. Inside people sit on mattresses and pillows spread out behind a table where they drink tea, eat, and smoke a shisha as they listen to music and dance. Sometimes there is even live music. Many youngsters will spend the night out going from one kheima to the next. (A shisha is referred to as an Egyptian Hookah which is used for vaporizing and smoking flavored tobacco.)

• The streets are typically empty in the early morning, which is completely opposite than most mornings in Algiers. Once the sun sets, the streets become very crowded between the hours of approximately 8:15 and 9:30 pm.  

• In the winter Ramadan is easier because it gets dark around 5:30 pm and the sun rises sometime around 6:00 am. The nights are longer and the days are shorter. People do not go as long without food or drink as they would in the summer months. Ramadan changes its occurrence so much because God wants the people to experience Ramadan during all times of year. When Ramadan is more difficult it is easier for those to understand what other people who go without all year feel like.

• In July the days are long and the nights are short. People will likely not eat until after 8:00pm and will have to stop around 3:30 or 4:00 am.

• In Paris, Muslims practicing Ramadan do not eat until 11:00 pm because the sun sets so late there.

• There are exceptions to eating during Ramadan. Someone can eat if they are traveling. If a woman or girl is on her period, she must eat during this time, but only in private. However, they are in debt and those days must be repaid. They can choose any day or any month to repay those days by fasting, as long as it is done before Ramadan begins the following year.  It is rare now to find many women who repay the days of fasting once they are off their period.

• If someone has diabetes, heart problems, or is sick then they can eat and do not have to repay any days.

• For girls who have not started their periods yet or boys who have not gone through puberty, they do not have to fast. Once they hit puberty the parents slowly ease them into learning how to fast during Ramadan. The first time a child starts to fast, the mother will throw the child a big party and invite many family and friends over to celebrate. They will also bring many gifts to the child. This has no religious consideration. It is merely for traditional purposes.

• Working hours are adjusted during Ramadan. This gives people time to shop for food to prepare that night.  It also helps people who are tired from lack of food or who have stayed up late eating or went to bed so late that it is hard to wake up early. Class sessions decrease from one hour to 45 minutes for all teachers.

• Swimming during Ramadan is not allowed because water may enter the mouth or nose and cause accidental consumption.  

• When it’s extremely hot outside, people are allowed to pour water into their mouths and swish it around like mouthwash and then spit it out. The water must not be swallowed.

•  To say “Have a nice Ramadan” you say, “Saha Ramadan” or "Mabrouk Ramadan." 

To all those observing this holy month, "Mabrouk Ramadan."