Christmas?

Similarities abound between Ramadan here and the Christmas season as celebrated in the States, according to my expert analysis:

1) People are more generous than the rest of the year.
2) The halls are decked -- with lanterns, streamers, lights.
3) Rampant commercialism overwhelms religious significance.
4) Families gather around excessively heaped tables.
5) No one really feels like working.
6) From what I've heard, they play the same TV shows every year.

In the Coptic part of the city a couple days ago, we saw an example of #1. A donkey-pulled cart was making its way down the street. Men on the back of the cart were filling plastic bags with what we guessed to be hibiscus tea, which they drew from a large barrel, and then passing them out to everyone on the street. Little kids were swarming the cart, practically on top of each other.

Ramadan mubarak!