The Islamic Holy month of Ramadan is just about to start and here in Cairo it is a very major event. Ramadan is the time of the year when Muslims deny themselves food, drink and sexual contact during daylight hours. It is also a time when people reflect on life and otherwise give thanks to god. This article isn't meant to explain what Ramadan is, but wikipedia has a decent page on it if you want to learn more. Unlike Christmas, the holy month of Ramadan doesn't always begin at the same time. Due to the Islamic Calendar, which is Lunar, the month of Ramadan is a few weeks earlier each year. The first day of Ramadan is signaled by the first sighting of the crescent moon and usually it is not clear exactly when the month will begin until a day before, or even the day it starts. This year the month is expected to begin on September 13th, which is tomorrow. While the coming of Ramadan doesn't have the in your face punch of Christmas, there are signs that remind you that it is just around the corner. First, about a month before it starts you will find make shift stalls selling beautiful lanterns especially for the event (click here to see related video about Egyptian lanterns). These lanterns are priced such that they are accessible even to those who have little money. I would compare these lanterns to a wreath, it is something that goes on sale only around the holiday, and while you could re-use it, it isn't unlikely that you would buy a new one each year either. Second, streets and mosques become decorated with colorful lights, fabrics and colors. As the first day draws closer you begin to see the mosques extending out into the streets in advance of the increased numbers of people who will attend prayers each day. These things aren't overly flashy, but they provide a reminder that something is coming. On the more commercial side many of the TV stations in the Middle East have special programming during the month. Sometimes these are religious programs, sometimes the broadcasting of classic movies like The Message or Sinbad and what seems to be a more contemporary development, the showing of action films and special event films. This year there is a small contraversy about the content of such films, especially one which depicts a women being raped. There are also a number of special offers and promotions being held by TV stations. The word on the street is that once Ramadan starts, the streets will become virtually unusable between 3pm and 5pm, the hours before people break their fasts. This is because everyone is rushing around to get to where they need to be when they eat. Often people eat with their families or with friends and each day the location may change. Considering how congested the streets in Cairo already are, I will be fascinating to see how much worse things can actually get. That may be a call for another post on the subject. I am also excited about rumors that stalls of special foods will appear and that the streets bustle late into the night as people take advantage of the times when they can eat and drink. I really hope this is the case, because contrary to what many Egyptians will tell you, the food selection is extremely limited and some variety would be very well received. Ramadan Mubarak