We all rejoice when the sweet voice of adan, call for prayers, finally comes in after a rough day of food deprivation and our daily after-iftar fix of caffeine finally kicks in, we all spend hours watching, and mostly criticizing, shows on television and munching away on sweet delicacies that we swear not to over-indulge in yet end up doing exactly so. Ramadan is basically the same everywhere in many attributes, but what makes the holy jolly month even jollier is the little differences between how different areas of Egypt celebrate that add this unique flavor to a traditional month.

Upper Egypt: El Dawar Ya Omda

Keeping the old traditions of a genuine generous Egyptian, saidis insist on spending each iftar of the month in the family’s dawar, the eldest and most powerful member of the family’s house. Each household has to bring a food tray to the dawar where the men of the family gather around to enjoy iftar together.

It is of ultimate importance that the table includes meat, tawagen (stews), and all Ramadan delicacies, although no special foods are served, protein is absolutely necessary. All the sweet and savory treats are home made by the wives as it is unheard of to buy ready made food and it is considered a sign of status and cleverness that women compete to make the most delicious meals.

After iftar the men gather around to listen to the mokre’, a Qur’an teller, and spend the evening in worship, of course without skipping the delicacies of konafa, fetir, amar el din and all Ramadan necessities.

So where do the woman stand from all the festivities? Despite keeping their strict traditions of separating men and women, women do know how to have their fun. Gathering in a different house each night, the women spend the night chatting away, having fun, indulging in the different delicacies they cook and show off, and also spend time listen to the female mokre’a.

Comes night and time for sohour, the gathering is over and each man goes home to gather around his immediate family over of course a sohour generally made of meat and the different tawagen.

Nuba: Artists at Heart

While the Nubians also gather for iftar, it is a rather liberal atmosphere compared to upper Egypt. The females and the males gather around with their neighbours, rather than strictly family, for their iftar. Nubians break their fast on a special Nubian drink called Abre, with a corn flakes’ like consistency, the drink is made of different fruits, such as dates or oranges, and added to water and sugar. Then the iftar tables are filled up with all Ramadan classics, including a special Nubian dish Cabet, a popular meal consisting of bread and vegetables.

But unlike many other areas, Nubians celebrate Ramadan with worships as well as artistic evenings where singers perform Ramadan-related songs. They also hold cultural and sports competition to spice it up a notch.

Delta: The Fetir Basket

While gathering in the family house is essential during the first day, the Delta is not really big on every-day iftar invitations. The sons and daughters are invited with their spouses to the father’s house on the first day where meat has to be served with vegetables and soups.

The event is prepared for long before Ramadan as baskets of goodies are sent before the first day. The basket, called mawasem, include meat, eggs, jam, fetir (traditional pie), ghee, potatoes and many other commodities, and the contents differ widely according to the social status. The females also have to prepare their own fetir, karish cheese and oras (traditional pastries) for sohour.

Then throughout the month occasional iftar invitations are held for family or neighbors but they are usually fewer. The big gatherings are always after the tarawih prayers when the neighbors gather around to watch television and munch on halaweyat, the equivalent of mehalabeya (pudding-like dessert).  The peaceful countryside is usually dead by 11 when everyone goes to sleep to wake up at dawn, have their light sohour and farm the day away. While meat on iftar is necessary, sohour is usually lighter consisting of jam, cheese, foul, taameya (falafel) and fetir.