Halo (hello, see what we did there) Ramadan! This is the second year in a row that won’t be spent how we traditionally do. Large gatherings and restaurant iftars are out of the question, however it turns out that there are lots of other things that we truly appreciate about the Ramadan.
Ali Mikail (Intern)
Favorite thing: Pre-Iftar
Why: just having everyone gathered around socializing about how Ramadan has been so far
is nice, talking about the food and how good it’s going to be is just another level. Personally, I love pre iftar because I get to see my uncle fast a whole day and get into the crappiest mood ever because he can’t go longer than an hour without having a small bite or a snack.
Zainah Al Meqbel (Intern)
Favorite thing: The dining table
Why: All year round our fancy dining table collects dust because our busy schedules and messy eating habits prevent us from enjoying a meal at the same time. But the one month out of the year where every day offers what feels like an all-you-can-eat buffet is the only thing that brings us together. I will never get tired of the mouth watering spreads topped with creamy lentil soup and variations of samosa stuffing. In front of every seat, a glass full of Vimto, but our hollow stomachs distract us from how watered down it tastes. Rice, meat, and unidentifiable food groups are my Ramadan miracles.
Jennifer Cádiz (Mixed Media Solutions)
Favorite thing: Quiet mornings
Why: Everyone has been up running around visiting relatives and friends [through zoom only surely] until the wee hours, so you tend not to see anyone [who doesn’t live with you] at a safe social distance in your apartment building until later on in the afternoon or evening just before iftar, by which time I’m inside Netflixing. So, the mornings in Ramadan you have to yourself to catch some rays, read a book outside, or go walkabout, safe in the knowledge that you won’t be bothered by other humans. And the street kitty-cats are out too, so that’s always fun.
Mariam Raslan (Mixed Media Content Creator)
Favorite thing: Mom’s cooking ventures
Why: Every Ramadan for some reason, mom decides to experiment with new dishes for us to have for Iftar! We get to all gather as a family, have delicious food and rate which dishes get to make it into our lives after Ramadan is over. It’s all fun and games though until someone is too hungry, plus in the worst mood ever and that day’s dish turns out to be Bamya.
Umika Pidaparthy (Online Producer)
Favorite thing: Post-Iftar Festive Vibes
Why: It’s after iftar and everyone has tucked into a delicious meal. Once you get over the inevitable food coma and the sun has set, that’s when the festive mood sets in! And it’s a complete 180 from the slow and sleepy pace of the day. The decorative lights are switched on, shops reopen, and people are out and about. Some people might visit the mall for those amazing deals while others visit friends and family, dressed in their finest Ramadan outfits. Pre-pandemic one could witness the excitement of the season at a souq or anywhere that has an abundance of roadside cafés and food stalls, provided the weather is pleasant. The joy and energy you feel as you stroll through these bustling areas is completely unique! You can spot big groups of families with kids that are just happy and eager to explore. Some people grab their iftar-to-suhoor bite from a popular food stall, while others park themselves at a shisha cafe and watch people mill about. A fun time indeed!
Yasmine El Charif (Content Manager)
Favorite thing: All the Kunafa creations!
Why: Lotus on fresh cream, sweet pumpkin on shredded phyllo, Kinder, Red Velvet on warm cheesy dough… (yes, I might have tried to rhyme this to “My Favorite Things”) Before I am attacked for liking bastard Kunafa creations, hear me out! Whether it’s Sale Sucree’s Trifle Kunafa mango version, or their date rendition (which is my absolute fave), at the end of the day, all modern Kunafas pay homage to the Palestinian classic. All the variations just make Ramadan dessert discussions all the more fun! Embrace the strange, and let your palate explore what Kunafa dreams are literally made of. Ramadan Kareem!
Yasmin Gamal (Mixed Media Content Creator)
Favorite thing: Family Traditions
Why: As a community we probably share many traditions especially during Ramadan, but every family tends to have their own. It might be a fanous (lantern) that only comes out during Ramadan or a recipe that has been passed down that only gets made during the hold month. I appreciate these and love learning what other families do. Now that I have my own little family, we seem to have created a few of our own. We always have a kunafa on the first day of Ramadan, pick one show that we all watch together and spend the last 30 minutes of fasting watching random cooking shows because we enjoy torturing ourselves (just kidding).
What’s your Ramadan Fave? Let us know, DM us @bazaargram on Instagram and we’ll decide if we agree with you.
