Friday morning we headed to the grocery store for our standard shopping trip. The store was absolutely insane (which is awesome because we love chaos, not). The aisles were packed with people pushing overflowing carts, children were launching oranges, and some lose birds were flying around (the birds are actually pretty typical). Everyone was preparing to start celebrating Ramadan by cooking a huge feast that evening.
Although, the start of Ramadan is dependent on seeing the new moon and it wasn't spotted in the sky that evening so the beginning of Ramadan was postponed until sunset on Saturday. Which means our supermarket debacle could have been avoided.
This will be my second Ramadan, so I am obviously an expert and will now make you an expert. Welcome to Ramadan 101:
1. Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and Muslims fast during daylight. Eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing gum are illegal in public areas. Restaurants are closed for lunch.
2. Ramadan will last about 29 or 30 days. It is now in the summer, but that isn't always the case. The Islamic calendar is based on the moon. A lunar year is shorter than the calendar year we are familiar with, so Ramadan swifts about two weeks each calendar year.
3. There is a large feast at sunset to break the fast and everyone wakes up early before sunrise to eat a large meal. Day and night activities are reversed. Work hours are shortened for Muslims so they can sleep during the day and are active during the night. Here is a rough outline of someone's daily routine during Ramadan.
4. Store hours change to accommodate the change in routine. Stores will be closed during the day and open at night.
5. At the end of Ramadan there will be a huge celebrate called Eid al-Fitr.
6. Alcohol cannot be purchased during Ramadan.
Our normal routine doesn't change too much. We are excited because the traffic in the morning is non-existent, but we stay off the roads at night when everyone comes out of hybrination. We are looking forward to Eid because we get three or four days off of work.
Happy birthday Allison. I miss you every time I get crud on my tonsils.
Although, the start of Ramadan is dependent on seeing the new moon and it wasn't spotted in the sky that evening so the beginning of Ramadan was postponed until sunset on Saturday. Which means our supermarket debacle could have been avoided.
This will be my second Ramadan, so I am obviously an expert and will now make you an expert. Welcome to Ramadan 101:
1. Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and Muslims fast during daylight. Eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing gum are illegal in public areas. Restaurants are closed for lunch.
2. Ramadan will last about 29 or 30 days. It is now in the summer, but that isn't always the case. The Islamic calendar is based on the moon. A lunar year is shorter than the calendar year we are familiar with, so Ramadan swifts about two weeks each calendar year.
3. There is a large feast at sunset to break the fast and everyone wakes up early before sunrise to eat a large meal. Day and night activities are reversed. Work hours are shortened for Muslims so they can sleep during the day and are active during the night. Here is a rough outline of someone's daily routine during Ramadan.
| 3:30am | Wake up to pray and eat breakfast |
| 4:45am | Sunrise |
| 5:00am | Go back to sleep |
| 7:00am | Wake up #2 and get ready for work |
| 8:00am | Arrive at work |
| 1:00pm | Leave work |
| 2:00pm | Take a nap |
| 5:30pm | Wake up #3 to pray |
| 6:30pm | Sunset |
| 6:35pm | Break fast with a large meal |
| 8:00pm | Visit family and friends, complete normal daily tasks |
| 12:00am | Go to sleep |
4. Store hours change to accommodate the change in routine. Stores will be closed during the day and open at night.
5. At the end of Ramadan there will be a huge celebrate called Eid al-Fitr.
6. Alcohol cannot be purchased during Ramadan.
Our normal routine doesn't change too much. We are excited because the traffic in the morning is non-existent, but we stay off the roads at night when everyone comes out of hybrination. We are looking forward to Eid because we get three or four days off of work.
Happy birthday Allison. I miss you every time I get crud on my tonsils.
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