If your trip to Egypt coincides with Ramadan, then let me tell you, the vibes will not be the same. Spending Ramadan in Egypt is quite different from anywhere else in the world or the entire region. It’s very special and has its own charm, but that also means that your trip could be slightly different.

The aim of this blog post is to prep you for your trip to Egypt if it’s during Ramadan. So, it covers everything from things to expect to things you should experience, topped, of course, with all the lovely traditions that come with the holy occasion.

Disclaimer: This blog post is tackling Ramadan from a cultural point of view and not a religious one.

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What is Ramadan?

Many of you may know Ramadan as the month when Muslims all around the world refrain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset, but what is it really about? And what’s the story behind it?

Muslims celebrate Ramadan, the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar, to commemorate the revelation of the Holy Quran’s first verses to Prophet Muhammed. It’s a time of heightened spirituality, worship, and blessings. During that month, people would try to do more good and work on their self-improvement.

Interesting Fact: Ramadan occurs around 11 days earlier every year. Why? The lunar calendar doesn’t correspond with the Gregorian calendar as lunar months are shorter than solar ones. Each month begins with the new moon and every year, Ramadan’s date is estimated but confirmed upon looking at the moon the night before.

Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

Fasting is one of the 5 pillars of Islam –it involves abstaining from food, drink, smoking, sexual activities, and any sinful behavior from sunrise till sunset for the entire month. It’s a common misconception that Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan to feel for the poor. Why would the poor be required to fast as well then? Fasting is actually an attempt to reach “taqwa” which is “piety”. Abstaining from our desires is meant to train our self-control.

How is Ramadan celebrated in Egypt?

Wondering why you should visit Egypt in Ramadan? Well, out of all countries, Ramadan in Egypt has a special taste. Yes, Ramadan is a religious and spiritual holiday, but it’s also a time of giving, love, and compassion. The Ramadan spirit in Egypt is quite different, making celebrations here really stand out. Here are 10 Ramadan traditions you need to know about:

The Ramadan lantern AKA “fanous Ramadan“

The Ramadan lantern is the holy month’s main symbol; you’ll never visit an Egyptian home or pass by a neighborhood and wouldn’t find beautiful lanterns, lighting up the place. Throughout the years, Egyptian families have kept this tradition and passed it from one generation to the other. The traditional lantern is a candle-lit one made of copper and covered in colorful illustrations.

There are several legends around how it originated but what’s definite is that the tradition dates back to Fatimid Egypt. The most popular story says that when Al Muiz Li Din Allah came to Egypt, the people welcomed him, holding similar lanterns. That was mid-Ramadan at the time and till the end of the holy month, lanterns were used to light the streets. And ever since that incident, and candle-lit lanterns had always been associated with Ramadan.

The vibrant decorations

Just like the lanterns, the streets in Ramadan are usually covered in colorful lights and decorations. The “khayamiya” pattern is also a very popular one that’s printed on textile used in other Ramadan decorations such as cushions and table cloths.

The Iftar cannon

For years, Egyptians used to fire a cannon right before the call for Maghrib prayers to notify people that they can break their fast. The tradition started in Cairo before being applied in other Muslim countries and there are several stories around how it first originated as well.

A popular story dates back to the era of Khedive Ismail, some soldiers were cleaning the cannon when they fired it by mistake. People at the time thought the government came up with a new idea to notify people with iftar time and when the ruling family heard about this, they made it official. Another commonly heard story goes back to the Mamluk Sultanate and it was also an accident. The legend says that a new cannon was being tried and it happened to coincide with the first day of Ramadan and right before Maghrib prayers. People also thought that this was the sultan’s new signal for iftar and it was turned into a tradition.

For years, the cannon was fired from the Saladin Citadel and a few years later, it was done from the Muqattam Hill instead to reach more people. In the early 90s though, the government stopped firing the cannon in Ramadan and an old recording of the tradition started airing on national TV instead. However, after almost three decades, this year (2021), Egypt will be firing the cannon for the first time since 1992 at the Saladin Citadel.

Gatherings

Ramadan is a very family-oriented occasion and one that promotes togetherness. That’s why gatherings are very popular amongst friends and families. Almost every single day, Egyptians would be either hosting a gathering or spending it at someone else’s, whether it’s a family member, extended family, a friend, or a neighbor.

Iftar, when Muslims break their fast, is not the only meal. There’s also suhoor, which is the last meal before fasting again, and it’s usually eaten before dawn, and people would also get together for suhoor.

The “mesaharaty“

Speaking of suhoor, back in the days, when people slept early, someone had to wake them up to eat. And that someone is known as the “mesaharaty“. In every neighborhood, an old man would walk around beating some sort of portable drum, calling people to wake up in an inviting tone. This tradition also dates back to the Fatimid era and even though it’s not very common nowadays, thanks to new technology and alarms, they still do exist in some areas.

Longer nights

Since people are usually out and about, whether praying, visiting loved ones, or eating out, they tend to stay up late. Egypt, in general, is one of the countries that never sleeps, but Ramadan in Egypt is much livelier than usual. There’s always something happening somewhere and the overall vibes and spirit are incomparable.

Ramadan tents

Speaking of the lively atmosphere, Ramadan tents is one of the elements that make it celebratory. Big tents are usually set up at hotels, sports clubs, and other venues with a big space for people to get together after iftar. Traditional foods and delicacies are usually served and live music is included most of the time.

“Ma’edat Rahman“

If you pass by an incredibly long dining table on the street during Ramadan, that’s not a restaurant’s communal table –that’s a “Ma’edat Rahman”. This is literally Arabic for “table of God”, a charitable act in which any passersby are welcome to join and have iftar for free.

TV series marathons

For some reason, Ramadan is a high season for the TV industry. Since Ramadan is a time of gatherings and everybody loves entertainment, every year, new series, soap operas, and shows come out. We’re talking 70+ series sometimes! So yeah, it’s not easy to choose what to watch.

As TV viewership increases, it goes without saying that this is also a high season for advertisers. To the extent that people would follow and wait to see the commercials as it’s that time of the year when brands flex on their competitors.

Football tournaments

As it’s Egyptians’ favorite sport, it had to be part of the celebration somehow. Every Ramadan, young boys, and sometimes girls, would form teams and participate in football tournaments. Those are usually held at sports clubs and youth centers around the country.

Other Ramadan Traditions and Rituals

• Breaking one’s fast by eating 1 or 3 dates just like Prophet Muhammed did.
• Every night throughout the holy month, there are special, voluntary prayers, called Taraweeh, after the last daily prayer (Isha). Those prayers are usually long and meditative. And by the end of Ramadan, the entire Quran would be read by finishing those prayers. Another voluntary prayer, that is practiced during the last 10 days of Ramadan, is Tahajjud.

Ramadan Delicacies

Because food is an integral part of Ramadan, and the Egyptian culture, the occasion, of course, has its own specialties. So, at every Ramadan feast or iftar table, you’re definitely going to find the following foods and drinks.

Atayef

Also known as Qatayef, this Middle Eastern dessert is a Ramadan specialty. Atayef look like round dumplings or small pancakes that can be stuffed with a variety of fillings such as nuts, cheese, or creme. Sometimes, they’re eaten raw and other times, they’re fried and covered in sugar-based syrup.

Kunafa

Another traditional Middle Eastern dessert that’s very popular during Ramadan is kunafa. The shredded pastry dough is soaked in sugar-based syrup and between the layers, you can find different kinds of fillings. The most traditional would be nuts or ricotta cheese; however, Egyptians have come up with several innovations over the past few years. Don’t be surprised if you find kunafa with mango (if Ramadan’s in the summer), Nutella, Lotus, or Red Velvet!

Nuts and Dried Fruits

Nuts and dried fruits have become a Ramadan staple because of they’re quite the healthy and nutritious snacks you need to power through the month. It’s become a tradition to start buying your month’s stock in advance because no living room in the Arab world should lack a tray of nuts in Ramadan. Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashew, pistachio, raisins, dried apricots, dried figs, and dates are all very popular.

Khoshaf

Taken from the Turkish cuisine, is another healthy snack we like to call in Arabic Khoshaf. This is hands down one of the easy Ramadan recipes because it’s basically a mixture of dried fruits, soaked in warm water for hours, and topped with your favorite nuts.

Oriental Juices

To stay hydrated, power-boosting, refreshing juices are a highlight in the Ramadan menu. Some of the most popular are Amar El Din (which is basically apricot juice), carob, cold hibiscus, and tamarind.

What to Expect?

• It’s illegal to serve alcohol during Ramadan and even liquor stores aren’t allowed to operate. So, hard luck trying to get your hands on any alcoholic drink during your stay. The bright side is that you’ll get to try all sorts of traditional Ramadan beverages.
• Working hours are different. To give employees enough time to go back home before iftar, work shifts are usually shorter during Ramadan. Also, everywhere, other than restaurants, are usually closed during iftar time – stores, supermarkets, etc. may reopen again an hour or two afterwards.
• If you plan on visiting beach towns during your time in Egypt, Ramadan is a perfect time. Not just because you’ll be avoiding crowds, but also because prices would be incredibly low. But don’t miss Ramadan in Cairo!
• On the other hand, if you visit Egypt during the end of Ramadan and your vacation involves the 3 days of Eid Al-Fitr holiday, it’s recommended you avoid the beach destinations. That’s when local travelers flee Cairo –so they’d be crowded and more expensive.
• Ramadan is a very family-oriented holiday as I previously mentioned. If you’re lucky enough to know an Egyptian family, you don’t want to miss an iftar gathering.

FAQ: Can you eat publicly during Ramadan?

YES. If you’re a non-Muslim and you’re not sure whether or not you can eat in front of others while they’re fasting, it’s completely fine. Fasting teaches self-control, remember? Point is, don’t worry, it’s NOT OFFENSIVE.

Also, most restaurants would be operating normally during the day and you can go have your breakfast or lunch. However, bear in mind that during iftar time, you need to reserve in advance at all restaurants. This is a really challenging season for restaurants when their entire demand gets squeezed into a couple of hours every day. It’s very common for restaurants to mess quality or service during that time, given that they have to serve a lot of people while waiters and chefs fasting themselves. It’s not an excuse for bad service, of course, but that’s just a heads up. So, if you decide to have iftar at a restaurant for the sake of the experience, try to ask a trusted local where to go. Even the best of restaurants could mess up during Ramadan, unfortunately.

Where to Go in Cairo during Ramadan?

Al Hussein

Want the most authentic Ramadan experience? Then definitely head to Al Hussein district –this is where the famed Khan El Khalili Bazaar is. Prayers will be taking place whether at the iconic Hussein Mosque or the other beautiful mosques around Al Muizz street that date back to the Fatimid era. People will be out and about and lanterns and decorations will be lighting up the streets. You can enjoy sitting at one of the neighborhood’s famous coffeeshops, such as Al Fishawy, Naguib Mahfouz, Zeinab Khatoon, or El Lord AKA Qahwet Umm Kulthoum, or you can enjoy a Sufi dervishes show at Wekalet El Ghoury.

Search for nearby Ramadan tents

Big hotels in Cairo usually hold Ramadan tents and throw events. Check at your hotel or any of the nearby ones if they’re having anything special this year.

Drop a comment below if you’re spending Ramadan in Egypt this year or if you just learned about traditions you never knew about before.

Ramadan Kareem!

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