Ramadan in Egypt

Ramadan is widely known for being a highlight of the entire Islamic year. Egypt is one of the countries that enjoy Ramadan every year, and if you’re traveling in the country between April and may you will usually encounter Ramadan. This makes you wonder, are there limitations when there’s Ramadan in Egypt, should you visit the country during this time? Or is it a much better idea to postpone your visit to a later date? Needless to say, everyone feels about these things differently, so it’s important to understand the process and ensure everything is working as expected.

What is Ramadan in Egypt?

Ramadan is extremely important in the Islamic world. This is the 9th month of the calendar, and many Muslims see it as a time of reflection, prayer, and fasting. It’s extremely important to note that this is a month where there are lots of different customs, which is great if you are a tourist. During Ramadan in Egypt, you will find a few locations that are closed, but for the most part, you won’t be that limited.

This is why a lot of tourists want to visit Egypt during Ramadan since it’s a bit different and they get to have a different scope into what people think, the approach they have towards various ideas, and how they tackle all kinds of challenges. The fact that people don’t eat or drink during the daytime is quite incredible and it just shows the true power of Ramadan and its importance in people’s lives.

What can you expect during Ramadan in Egypt?

Right off the bat, this is not just a normal month. There are some differences that you need to adjust to if you are a person traveling during Ramadan, and that’s the thing that you must take into consideration. It’s crucial to note that life dynamics in general change during Ramadan. Shops usually close 2 hours before their normal closing time. Since people are fasting during the day and they don’t eat, smoke or drink, they are allowed to go home quickly so they can break the fast with the family.

Shops tend to close their doors 2 hours before sunset and for 2 hours after sunset. Some of them reopen and then they stay open past midnight. For the most part, Ramadan in Egypt is mostly about shifting the lifestyle to nighttime living, which is quite an incredible thing to think about. Not only that but during this time restaurants and hotels are holding all kinds of special promotions. They offer sunset meals and pre-dawn meals too. This is an interesting approach since it shows the importance of Ramadan and also how people shift their lives according to this new experience.

Can foreigners still drink alcohol during Ramadan?

Right off the bat, this is not just a normal month. There are some differences that you need to adjust to if you are a person traveling during Ramadan, and that’s the thing that you must take into consideration. It’s crucial to note that life dynamics in general change during Ramadan. Shops usually close 2 hours before their normal closing time. Since people are fasting during the day and they don’t eat, smoke or drink, they are allowed to go home quickly so they can break the fast with the family.

Shops tend to close their doors 2 hours before sunset and for 2 hours after sunset. Some of them reopen and then they stay open past midnight. For the most part, Ramadan in Egypt is mostly about shifting the lifestyle to nighttime living, which is quite an incredible thing to think about. Not only that but during this time restaurants and hotels are holding all kinds of special promotions. They offer sunset meals and pre-dawn meals too. This is an interesting approach since it shows the importance of Ramadan and also how people shift their lives according to this new experience.

Decorative elements

Source : Wikimedia

One of the things to notice during Ramadan in Egypt is the fact that there are a lot of homes decorated with lanterns. Kids are also performing Ramadan songs for their own communities. In Cairo for example there’s a cannon at Saladin’s citadel and this announces the start of a ceremony which is called iftar. This is quite interesting because you can take a break and connect with locals, since they enjoy it as they break their fasting. It’s an interesting approach and it just shows how much Ramadan means to people here, unlike many other regions out there.

What can you find on the Ramadan menu?

For the most part, you will have dates and milk, and in some cases, you can also try out seasonal juices. Out of these, Jallab is popular because it’s made with rosewater, grape molasses, and some dates too. All of these stand out to deliver something distinctive, unique, and empowering at the same time. Generally, Ramadan in Egypt does bring in a qamar el-din apricot juice.

This one is super popular and available mostly during Ramadan. There are still lots and lots of variations that people check out and try out, and that’s the thing that truly makes it shine in its own right. One thing is certain, there are some options to focus on when it comes to drinks and foods, but in the end, you will be incredibly happy with the features and selection.

Festivities for Ramadan in Egypt

The interesting thing about festivities is that generally streets are filled with colorful lights, decorations, and many others. As we mentioned earlier, lanterns are very common. These were used for lighting the way to the procession that starts Ramadan. With that in mind, they are a symbol of Ramadan in the country and that makes them so different and interesting at the same time.

Nowadays you can find a very interesting tradition where people are feasting at night and there’s also entertainment during the night. It’s said that this type of stuff started during the 8th century and at that time a Mesaharati was walking the neighborhoods. They were focused on waking up residents for the Sohour. And to do so, they were using a drum.

However, these days you have specialized tents placed all over the city where people can access entertainment and all kinds of shows. These usually take place during the night, which is quite interesting. Some of the tents are quite simple. Others on the other hand are very elaborate, with luxurious furniture and a very large stage for performers.

As a tourist during Ramadan in Egypt, there’s a lot to check out and see for yourself. You will be quite impressed with the huge wealth of information and great places to explore, but also the engaging features and ideas you can find in the mix. There’s always something new to try out, be it music, food, drinks, and so on. If you’re the more adventurous type, then you will be able to try out a sheesha with some tobacco or even a water pipe. These are all great things to check out and enjoy while here, and they are bound to bring in lots of fun and excitement. That’s what makes the experience so unique and rewarding in the first place.

What is Eid Al-Fitr?

As we mentioned a bit earlier, this is quite an important festival if you want to visit Egypt during the Ramadan period. This festival is designed to celebrate the end of Ramadan for the year. That means it takes place towards the end of the month, and it usually covers around 3 days. It’s a very fun time with lots of great events, music, great food, and it’s suitable for families as well. There’s a lot to see and enjoy, and you will find yourself impressed with the numerous features and options.

Even if you’re a traveler, you get to see lots of distinct things here. For example, at the beginning of the festival people usually enjoy some mass prayers. Then people go to the gardens and parks to celebrate with others. Some of the most popular locations where you can find such festivities are the Fustat Garden and also the Giza Zoo.

During this festival, people tend to exchange a lot of gifts with their entire family. Eid Al-Fitr is also a time for celebrating great food. This is the time when a lot of families are preparing Fattah. This is a meal that has meat, tomato sauce, rice, and bread. It’s extremely popular and you can find some variations in restaurants. Even if you are a tourist, you can still give it a try for yourself and see how it goes and if you like it.

Is it mandatory to start fasting as a tourist in Egypt during Ramadan?

Fasting is known for being one of the 5 major pillars of Islam. What this means is that all followers need to fast, this is mandatory. However, even as a local, you are allowed to not fast if you’re menstruating, pregnant, or if you are traveling. That being said, no rules are applied to any tourists. If you go and visit Egypt during Ramadan, it’s business like usual.

With that being said, you should consider showing respect and courtesy by not consuming drinks or food in front of people that are fasting. Needless to say, this is a proper way to respect people that are fasting, while also doing your thing and enjoying the local food.

Are there restrictions for tourists during Ramadan?

For the most part, it’s business like usual, as we said. But there are things like shops reducing working hours that will need some adjustment from your side. This is why a good rule of thumb is to try and check any of the timetables in advance. Many restaurants remain open for tourists, even if locals are unable to eat during the day. That being said, most of these are in tourist resorts. But you can try to eat less during the day and enjoy food with the locals during the evening. That’s when things truly blossom and you can gain access to all kinds of great experiences and benefits.

Are prayers taking place during Ramadan?

YYes, people go and pray in the congregation. They go to their mosque and enjoy prayers in the evening. It’s also possible to see a lot of people recite verses from the Quran. Ramadan is known for being a more family-focused experience, and that’s certainly a thing to take into consideration. Families also prepare food at home, they visit friends.

It’s a communal experience and one that does encourage people to reconnect, re-engage with others and establish new friendships as well. People always tend to help one another, so no one remains without any of the iftar food after they fasted.

Other things to know

During Ramadan a lot of boys and even girls create teams and they enter football tournaments at various football clubs. Not only that, but for a lot of TV companies, this is high time for the TV series. That’s why you will find a lot of new series or even older series coming in and they are on quite a lot during the day. This is the time when viewership is actually at an all-time high, and that alone is incredibly interesting. With that in mind, it’s a great and exciting opportunity to try out something new for tourists, and there are plenty of rewarding experiences.

Conclusion

Visiting Egypt during Ramadan is a great idea since you’re going to the country before that extremely hot season. It’s a very good time to explore the country, and there aren’t a whole lot of restrictions. Respecting locals is mandatory, but at the same time, you don’t have to worry about fasting or anything like that. If you enjoy the night life, then visiting Egypt during Ramadan is a cool approach, since you have so many things open during the night. Yes, as a tourist you are bound to have a great time during Ramadan in Egypt, so you should give it a try!

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