Watercolor on paper. Copyright 2012 Totsymae
Ramadan lasts 30 days. It starts July 20th and you can count 30 days out to know when it ends. It doesn’t start the same day every year though. I haven’t figured why yet but understand that it changes. During Ramadan, fasting starts from sun up to sundown. You can’t be cheating with little whatnots during this time. You can’t even drink water. Imagine that. In all this heat, you’ve gotta be without water during the hottest parts of the day. Business is totally shut down during fasting time and opens at sundown.
Muslims spend weeks stocking up on what they will need for this time. I understand that folk pretty much gorge out on the food ’cause I gather they’re pretty hungry when sundown hits. In the case of health issues, folk can do what they can during Ramadan, like drink water, if they can’t go without it. Me, myself, I wouldn’t go without water regardless. I just couldn’t. But I have been asked by the Muslim women folk if I was going to do Ramadan stuff with them. They seem to really like me and to be honest, I’ve fallen in love with these women. They’re fun and we have great laughs together. While they do have their own drama, I’ve found them much easier to be around than the western women folk here, actually. Anyhow, I think I should experience the practice of Ramadan since I’m here but of course, I’ll be drinking myself plenty of water. At least, I’ll do it for as long as I can. I won’t promise 30 whole days but I’ll put in a good effort, and I say that only ’cause I don’t typically eat late at night or past 5, for the most part.
Anyhow. There will be lots of praying going on and knowing what I know that’s happened today…Ahem, ahemmm (Cough, choke, cough)…We’ll talk about that later, okay?
I'm an artist who's writing,mothering, blogging and doing a few other things under the sun. I buy toilet paper 99.9% of every trip I make to the grocery store. I'm a people watcher, so I know you're here but drop me a line anyway.
Ramadan feasts are great social events. Go ahead and drink your water it will help keep you sane in that heat. You’ll feel like your whole day has turned upside down so eating at night won’t be quite so weird. Looking forward to your blogs about it.
I hear the first three days are tough. I just hope I don’t forget by putting something in my mouth.
Fascinating stuff. I thought Ramadan was always in December….
It is. I’m kinda eager to see how others fair on their fast.
Good luck! I can’t wait to hear your stories of Ramadan.
Thanks. I’ve fasted before but not this way or this long. Of course, not in this kinda weather either. We’ll see how this goes…
I’ve never really known what Ramadan was all about. This was great to read, thank you. You gave me an education.
Glad to share with you. I’m learning myself. I’ve even bought myself a nonalcoholic beverage. It’s popular and the stores have stocked up on it. It’s quite good too.
Go for it, Totsy! When in Rome … and all that … My husband is originally from Syria so I do know about Ramadan as many of his friends and relatives here in Toronto observe it.(Not us … whew!) The post-sundown feasts are worth the wait if you can hang in.
And that’s what I was thinking. They are happy that I’m joining them for Ramadan. They just don’t know that I’m looking forward to what’ll be on their dinner table come sundown.
There are a couple of women here from Syria. No insult to your hubby but one is strange and the other’s just pure crazy. Anyway…I’m looking forward to Ramadan.
Great opportunity to try it out. Looking forward to your stories.
Yes, it is. I hope I’m not too weak in the fingers to type.
Activities like this and the calls to prayer certainly must keep one in contact with the god of their understanding. In US we also have such rituals for the god of our understanding: shopping.
Trust me, a lot of shopping goes on here. Maybe not during Ramadan so much but with limited activities here, shopping is an everyday pastime. I’ve become a shopper myself from being here.
Good luck, Totsy! Be sure to let us know how it goes. Oh, and what kind of Ramadan activities do they do?
Thank you. I’ll have to get back with you on the activities. Would be kinda nice to visit a Saudi home and sit at the dinner table come sundown.
I’m looking forward to learning more about this holiday through your experiences. I’m glad you’re only doing the food part and not the water, though, because of the heat. I hope no one gets heat stroke.
I don’t know how they make it without water. I’ve always drank water anytime I’ve fasted. I hope no one gets heat stroke either. The heat here makes you move a lot slower and stay tired most of the time. It’s a scorcher.
Dear Tots,
Thank you for educating your readers on SO many interesting topics.
I feel ignorant that I do not know much about “”Ramadan”"… Xx
Don’t feel that way, Kim. I’m learning myself and hoping I don’t sound too uninformed when asking questions. But really, I don’t think anybody can be worse than me, who wore nothing but underclothes under my abaya. A few folks have had their laughs when I told that one.
i just read the start date of Ramadan is dependant upon the sighting of the new moon.
Interesting…. hope you are doing well these days.
David in Maine USA
note: my wordpress is in your spam – i hate it when this happens!
Now that you say that about the moon, it sounds familiar.
I am well. Thank you. Hot but well all the same.
Best of luck to you this Ramadan, Totsymae. Hubby will be doing Ramadan as well. It’s no joke, but he’s still managed to make it out better than alive after three years. It seems that the most rewarding thing about Ramadan is the spiritual and mental “cleansing” that results from the fasting. Eid is also quite an experience to look forward to once Ramadan is over.
I’m so glad that you’re experiencing a camaraderie among the women where you are. I’m sure that that is well worth the trip!
I was just speaking with a Sudanese woman I work with and she was saying how serious it is. It seems very intense. I’ve never heard of Eid. I’ll ask about that.
I will miss some of the women here. I’m very fortunate to have met them.
Take care of yourself, Tots. I would not want you falling out from the heat without water. I hope they will take into consideration, you are not a native and may well need the water not to wither to a cinder.
<3
Red.
Whether they take it into consideration or not, I’m drinking myself some water. Everything about living here is extreme for the westerner coming here. I will adapt where I can but deprive myself of water, I won’t.
Good. <3
First off, you keep hydrated, Totsy. You need that water in your system. Secondly, I’m not surprised that women who you like, like you back and want to share a bit of their lovely culture with you. My daughter and her family observe Ramadan. The feasting when the fasting is over is worth the wait! Enjoy!
Indeed, I will keep hydrated.
The women are very warm. Today, we had a little party and the Saudi women like to fix it up really nice. I don’t know how much of a feast I’ll have unless I go to somebody’s villa. I can imagine there’s some good eating during this time, however.
I’m a few days late to this post. By now you will be 2 days in. I hope you are hydrated and successful, in that order! Can’t wait to read the next installments — I’m off there now.
Fasting takes commitment. Fasting and not drinking water during the hottest part of the day takes fortitude and commitment. Kudos to you for even trying. Hope it’s going well, Tots. I’m sure you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when it’s all done. And you know what, you could end up doing the whole 30 days ’cause once you start and have done it for a couple days, the other days become easier. Mind over matter, Girl. Mind over matter. You don’t mind, it won’t matter.