It’s Ramadan here in Jordan. This is the month in the Islamic calendar that Muslims refrain from drinking and eating and some other activities from first light to sunset. The Islamic calendar is a luna calendar which means that every year it moves forward by 10-11 days. This year Ramadan falls in the summer months and the fasting is from 4am to nearly 8pm with high daytime temps.
This year the month of Ramadan started on the 10th of July. It is heralded by the first sighting of the new moon and this took place on the evening of the 9th.
I took this photo of the new moon and the planet Venus in the sky over the Petra Mountains on the evening of the 10th. It was taken from our balcony about 20 minutes after the sun had set. I loved the intensity of the colours as the night fell. Click on the photo to view it in larger size and more detail.
The breaking of the fast each evening is a time for families to come together and share in a meal.
The tray of drinks is ready for everyone to quench their thrist once the call of Adthan is heard. This is drink is known in Arabic as Tamerhindi or a syrup made from dates. It’s very sweet.
It is custom to break the fast with the eating of dates first. Then the meal is started with soup.
Eating with Atef’s family involves 14 adults and 9 kids from 6 months to 8 years. Not only are the noise levels at an all time high but lots of salad is required.
On this night we were eating at Atef’s older brothers house and we were having Mandi. This is a traditional arabic meal where the chicken or meat is cooked in a drum in the ground surrounded by hot coals. Atef and his nephew are checking on the mandi pit.
Setting up the eating area in the sitting room. A central dish of the main meal is placed in the middle and we all sit on the floor around to eat.
Our dinner of chicken and potatoes cooked Mandi style.
The rice is also cooked in the pit in the ground underneath the chicken.
It’s all hands on deck to get the meal ready when the hordes are hungry!
Parsley and toasted almonds are sprinkled on top and the the feast is ready.
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Middle East Moments 
Ramadan Mubarak Andrea . . . may it be a month of contentment for you and your family. Thank you for the beautiful photo series of one of your family meals. Not wanting to be disrespectful in the least: but during summer it really is a long time between meals. Wonder whether Alia is excluded at her age . . . thank you for your story . . .
Hi Eha thank you and you are not being disrespectful at all. Alia is excluded. All children are as fasting is too hard on their little bodies. The ill, elderly and pregnant and nursing women are also excluded.
Ramadan mubarak to you – and all those who read here, too.
What a wonderful picture of the new moon, I love it.
Food looks very nice and tasty – and I admire for you to find the time to make pictures of it.
Since ramadan moved into August some years ago, we don’t offer much soup any more – it is just too hot and we found hardly anybody to eat it, so better not make any. In winter I used to love these soups, often had some for sahoor.
I wish you a very good month.
I hope that you are enjoying a blessed Ramadan. My husband’s family are still very traditional and even though it’s hot we always start the meal with soup, though they tend to be lighter soups rather than thick and chunky.
Ramadan mubarak Andrea.
The picture of the new moon is breath taking, I was lost in the gradient of colors in the sky..
As for the iftar, that’s a lot of salad for sure. My heart goes out to all those who did the chopping 🙂
Thanks Sawsan, I only have to look out at the view from my balcony, particulary at sunset time, to be reminded of the beauty that surrounds us. I hope Ramadan is providing you with many blessings.
This is so fascinating to read… about the culture and customs over there. I can’t almost believe you have to manage so many hours without eating every day for a whole month. Do people faint a lot? Or do you still get to drink some sugary drink? Amazing photo of the moon and sky! It seems I haven’t got post updates of your blog in my reader for a while now. I have missed so many interesting posts. Very inspiring blog Andrea, I really like it 🙂
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