Ramadan in Egypt

Despite the cold everyone is out on the newly-lit and decorated streets, causing horrendous traffic jams. Shopping for the holy month is a favourite family affair for most Egyptians. Topping the list, of course, is the yameesh -- dried fruits and nuts, with dates also a must-have. The variety is tremendous, with imported cashew nuts and pistachios for the affluent and local peanuts and shredded coconut for those with less money to spend.

Charity is the spirit. "The banquets of the Compassionate" are expected to sprout all over the place, as is the custom every year, to provide meals for the least privileged. Ramadan lanterns of all sizes, shapes, colours and sounds have invaded the domestic market this year. The made-in-Taiwan lanterns that sing popular tunes that appeared last year are back with a vengeance, and even more gimmicks, including smoke and a wider variety of songs.

And now, good news for civil servants who have one extra reason to celebrate Ramadan this year. They will take Thursdays off in addition to the usual Fridays. The cabinet decided on a five-day working week for government employees for the duration of Ramadan to help streamline congested traffic. But there are fears the decision may backfire, causing even more unbreakable traffic jams, particularly just before iftar (the sunset breakfast meal). From another perspective, the decision has triggered calls among the delighted civil servants for a five-day working week throughout the year.

Courtesy of Al-Ahram Weekly, Cairo, Egypt.