Yemen Observer: http://www.yobserver.com
Posted in:
Culture & Society
Written By: Zaid al-Alaya
Article Date: Aug 26, 2010 - 2:12:36 PM
Every year in the Islamic month of Ramadan Yemeni markets experience a surge in sales, with food in particular flying off the shelves as families stock up on foodstuffs that are traditionally consumed during the festive month. Traditional foods eaten during Ramadan include dates, which are used to break the daily fast, as well as sweets and spices.
Mohammed Saleh, a salesman at the Shumaila Hari in Hadda said that people go crazy shopping for food stuff. Moa’atam al-Qadasi, a manager at al-Huda Supermarket, said that customers are flooding his store to buy necessary supplies for the month. Sales of meats, dates, macaroni, Yemeni coffee, and powdered milk are up—and are likely to continue increasing because prices rise at the beginning of Ramadan. Despite this, Huda has sold fewer spices and dates than it did last year at this time, said al-Qadasi. “The market has been moving quickly in recent years, but total sales have only increased by 60 percent this year, in comparison with 80 percent last year.
I think this has been caused by rising prices in the markets,” he said. For example, the price of dates has increased to about YR 400 per can this year, said Ridhwan al-Hitter, a seller of spices and dates. “People like to buy imported dates from Saudi Arabia for their high quality,” he said. Clothing sales also peak during Ramadan, as families purchase new clothing for the Lesser Bairam ceremony, which occurs on eid, the first day of the month following Ramadan.
But while food sales peak at the beginning of Ramadan, clothing sales peak later, said Ali al-Shara’abi, clothing retailer. “People generally start buying clothes in the last days of Ramadan, because they tend to spend money on necessary items at the beginning of the month.” In contrast, sales of qat, a mild stimulant chewed by many Yemenis daily, are expected to decrease around Ramadan, because qat chewing takes time away from prayer, said Ali Gaber, a qat seller. On average, he says, qat sales decrease every year by 15 percent.
“People use the time for worshiping Allah and reciting the Holy Quran.” Because Ramadan is a month of mercy, forgiveness, and generosity, many employers give extra work to the unemployed during this time. Baleegh al-Ba’adani, a customer, said that the markets are full of people in the days leading up to Ramadan, so the owners of commercial shops consider this month an important source of income. “Some people change Ramadan from a month of fasting and worshipping Allah into a month to fill their stomachs,” said al-Ba’adani.
Essam al-Hiassi, regional manager at Y GSM Company said that the month of Ramadan is a great chance for him that he learns how to control his desires and lusts. From down until sunset, all people--rich and poor--are equal and stay without food. The rich get to feel what it means to stay without food for more than 14-16 hours,” said al-Hiassi. He said that during Ramadan he recites the Quran, visits his relatives, and helps needy people in his neighborhood.
Working hours change, as work starts from 10 or 11 am and goes until 4 or 5 pm. But for private business and shops it starts at 11 am and ends 4 am. During Ramadan more money is spent than in any other month. Housewives get creative in Ramadan and make all sorts of dishes.
Hashim al-Ghurbani, an employee at the electricity ministry said that he likes to spend Ramadan “worshipping Allah and reciting the Quran because the rewards of Allah in this month are more and better. Unfortunately, TV during Ramadan is a source for distraction from worshipping as there are many Ramadan serials as channels race to present all sorts of programs and many people stay glued to the TV for up to 8 hours daily, and the rest of the day they sleep and work is one or two hours,” said al-Ghurbani.
Productivity in the official side during Ramadan is at its lowest. At around noon, government offices are almost empty because most employees chew qat all night until the early hours of the morning, before eating the second meal, Sahoor, and then sleeping until the lights come on. They either sleep until the afternoon and miss work or they wake up at around noon and go to the office (often in a very cranky mood!).
Some important advice for people during this month: never drive your car between 5 pm and the time of breaking the fast (iftar), because many accidents in Ramadan occur between 4-7 pm as people are rushing to get home in time for Iftar. Accidents in Yemen claim the lives of many and during Ramadan they increase exponentially. Many people get cranky around this time as well.
On the positive side, many activities are taking place in Ramadan, like football leagues, traditional games, competition in sports and eid games, intellectual gatherings where people get together to read books and discuss them. They also engage in gatherings for reciting the Quran and chanting.
The word Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word Ramdha which means extremely hot weather. Ramadan is a month spent fasting and praying to get closer to God. Every country has its traditions especially on this occasion. A visitor to Yemen in this month will get a different taste, looking at markets packed with different people. Life is quiet during the day and the streets look empty in contrast to their usual buzz. It continues like this until noon when you will be astonished by the sudden movement of pedestrians in the streets and markets. At the time of Iftar (the breaking of the fast) people will go either to their houses or to the mosque, where meals will be provided by charitable persons.
The Iftar in Yemen is very similar to all places and people. Dates eaten with some water or coffee and sambousa specially prepared by housewives. After the sunset prayer people go back to their homes to have the main meal, of shafut (Ethiopian style-bread mixed with milk and baiaa-Chives-in addition to meats of different kinds, sweets and salads.
During Ramadan mosques are full of people even for the dawn prayer, which during other months isn’t well attended.
When the maghrib prayer (sunset) is called and people all over break their fast with sambousas, dates, sweets, soups, etc. Many houses are filled with guests breaking iftar with their hosts; their voices can be heard from outside the houses. The maghrib prayer is made and people return to their homes for the delicious food that could be smelled cooking during the day, teasing hungry fasters, but forbidden for consumption at that time.
After dinner, people will gather together and watch Arab soap operas, chew qat, light firecrackers, and pray the taraweeh prayer. Much to the chagrin of those unfortunate to live nearby, construction on houses will pick back up in the late night hours, their workers having slept a good portion of the day. Many people will stay up into the wee hours of the morning or until the dawn prayer, fajr, and then sleep for most of the morning and then another day of Ramadan begins.
