Greetings from Cairo, where lights and decorations transform the city during Ramadan

"As the holy month of Ramadan begins this week, Muslims in Cairo have been adorning their homes with lights and decorations featuring arabesque patterns. Lanterns called fawanees, like the ones I saw being sold in this shop in old Cairo, have become a symbol of Ramadan and are an almost-mandatory home decoration for the month in Egypt. This street and the nearby neighborhood of al-Darb al-Ahmar bustle with shoppers getting ready for the holiday."

"They're buying not only decorations for their own homes but also gifts to bring to friends when they get together in the evenings to break the daily fast. And while Cairo's streets and homes visually transform in the days leading up to Ramadan, once the holy month begins, the focus turns inward. The daylong fasts without water or food, and the month's extended evening prayers, are aimed at turning people back to faith and away from daily impulses."

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, Cairo's streets and homes are adorned with lights and arabesque-patterned decorations. Lanterns called fawanees are widely sold in old Cairo and are a pervasive symbol and almost-mandatory home decoration in Egypt during Ramadan. The street and the nearby neighborhood of al-Darb al-Ahmar bustle with shoppers preparing for the holiday. Shoppers buy decorations and gifts to bring to friends for evening iftar gatherings that break the daily fast. In the days leading up to Ramadan the city visually transforms, and once the month begins the focus turns inward toward daylong fasting without food or water and extended evening prayers aimed at renewing faith.

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