Ramadan in Egypt, Europe, and America... Holy Month with Different Flavor

The month of Ramadan is different for expatriate Egyptians from their counterparts in Egypt, in terms of customs, traditions, and joy. "SEE" interviewed some expatriate Egyptians in foreign countries, to know their daily lives and habits to spend the month of Ramadan away from parents.

Alaa Thabet, head of the Egyptian family house in Germany, said that the month of Ramadan is an opportunity to gather members of the Egyptian community in Berlin on breakfast tables and serve Ramadan dishes and desserts such as kalnafa and kataf. He added that the members of the Egyptian community in Berlin participated in decorating community headquarters with Ramadan decorations and its lanterns in every place they gather throughout the month of Ramadan.

Abdelhamid Naqrish, representative of the International Union of Egyptian Citizens Abroad in France, said that the holy month of Ramadan is awaited by Egyptians abroad every year and serves as an opportunity for gatherings of Egyptians families abroad amidst manifestations of love and cohesion that bring them together.

Jamal Hammad, head of the Egyptian family home in Geneva, Switzerland, pointed out that the most prominent manifestations of the holy month of Ramadan are the observance of fasting, prayers,  Taraweeh, and night prayers of course.

Hammad said that there are manifestations of the celebration of Ramadan in the decorations and lanterns, and playing musical instruments after breakfast among the Egyptians.

Hossam Hassan, an Egyptian student at the University of Vienna, said that the month of Ramadan in any European country is different from the holy month in Egypt among parents and lovers.

He added: "We miss the sense of adornment and the suspension of lights and Suhur with friends and family on the carriages of beans all these things we are used to in Egypt and bring joy and happiness, but in the alienation, we do not feel."

He pointed out that expatriate Egyptians feel Ramadan only through programs and serials on television as well as media and what adds to them the joy of Ramadan as if they live the atmosphere of the holy month in Egypt.

Mohammad Ali, a student at the University of Ulm in Germany, said that at the beginning of his journey he relied on ready-made food, but with a large percentage, but with time he learned how to prepare food, saying: "Of course, the most popular food expatriates take are noodles and bananas and with time we learn the rest of the dishes such as kushari. He pointed out to the spread of food shops belonging to Arab citizens, which Muslims resort to for breakfast in Ramadan.