One More Day!!

According to local forecasters, we should see the crescent moon in Jordan tonight.  The crescent moon signifies the end of Ramadan.

For Muslims Ramadan is a time to clean up their lives, read the Koran, remember the poor and do away with bad habits.  We really admire that.

Over the years, many additional customs and traditions have become part of Ramadan.  Now, the markets are full of people buying excessive amounts of food during the day for the "Iftar" meal at night.  Around 8 p.m. the signal is given to end the fast and everyone begins eating.  They serve and eat elaborate meals, all prepared in the home.  It's like having Thanksgiving dinner every night for a month.  

The families stay up late, even the little children.  Everyone has a good time.

  About 5 a.m. the signal is given for the daily fast to begin, so a big breakfast is eaten around 4:30.

  

The women must be exhausted after all that cooking, not to mention the dirty dishes.  People don't have to be on the job until 10 a.m. but most are sleepy, thirsty and can't think good.  Offices close at 3:00.

 We can see why it's easy to lose focus on the real importance of Ramadan when all you do is think about food, buy food, prepare food, and eat excessive amounts of food (and watch each other to make sure they don't eat food).  We're glad it's over.

BUT WAIT!!  It's not over!!!

The next four days are Eid Ul Fitr....the feast of breaking the fast.  During Eid, the eating really gets going.  The traditional foods are sweet, creamy and rich.  The government declares a holiday and everyone stays home with their families and enjoys the binge.  During this time the men are expected to dig into their already empty pockets to get money so they can buy new clothing for their children and their women (wives, sisters, etc).  Most can't afford it, but they do it anyway.  Have mercy, we hope this ends soon and we can get back to normal, whatever that is.

Ed Mubarek!! 

40% of Jordanians have diabetes.