Ramadan decorations in Cairo : NPR

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR’s international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

As the holy month of Ramadan begins this week, Muslims in Cairo adorn their homes with lights and decorations in arabesque designs. Lanterns called fawaneeslike the ones I saw sold in this shop in Old Cairo, have become a symbol of Ramadan and are an almost obligatory decoration for the home during the month in Egypt.

This street and the neighboring al-Darb al-Ahmar neighborhood are full of shoppers preparing for the holidays. They buy not only decorations for their own homes, but also gifts to bring to their friends when they gather in the evening to break the daily fast.

And while Cairo’s streets and houses visually transform in the days leading up to Ramadan, once the holy month begins, the focus turns inward. One-day fasts without water or food, as well as the month’s extended evening prayers, aim to bring people back to faith and distance them from everyday impulses.

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