Ramaadan

Was a crazy month. It took place back in June. Its the Muslim month of fasting, which means no eating, drinking, insulting, or intimate contact from sun up to sun down for the entire month. The times of the fast were actually based on prayer. There was no eating after the early morning prayer. The prayer normally takes place at six am every morning, but seemed to be even earlier during Ramaadan. People awake roughly around five and eat something small like bread, or a little bit of leftovers from the night before, and maybe some tea. Then they do not consume anything until the final call to prayer which comes around seven thirty in the evening. As soon as the call rings out, a jug of water is on hand and everyone pours themselves a cup of water, and bread is passed out to everyone. People will take a bite, and a drink, and then go around and congratulate each other on another day of fasting done, and one less to go. Then big bowls of sweet breakfast porridge are served, and everybody relaxes and cleans up. They then head out to a big community prayer, to ask for strength in the next day of fasting. Most prayers throughout the day and week take only 10 minutes, but this one every night during the fast took almost half an hour. Then people come home, and just chat and relax. A big dinner is served, but usually isnt eaten until well nito the night, maybe around 11. No matter how late you wait to eat though, you still have to be up around five the next morning, trying to stuff smoe food down just to get you through the next day.