Happy Ramadan?

I walked into my favorite Halal butcher's and grocery store on Tuesday with a big sweet tooth and found a bonanza of North-African desserts waiting for me, much more than usual. Tuesday, evidently was the start of Ramadan, the season of atonement for Muslims. The practice is to fast during daylight hours, but once the sun goes down you're allowed to replenish yourself and at least some Muslims really do that in a big way. The store was was displaying a wider array of sweets than usual as well as three different types of flatbreads, for soaking up all the homemade cooking.

I snapped up the mille-feuilles (Napoleons) that Moroccans call their own as well as the twisty, deep fried, honey soaked nests you see in the center. They were both excellent and I'm still coming off my sugar-high.

As far as I know, Ramadan is celebrated in vastly different ways depending on country, sect and probably family. Some consider the holiday a very solemn time for which you'd never wish "Happy Ramadan" but others seem to focus on the moments of celebration that evenings and the end of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr, bring. So to any Muslim readers out there I wish a tentative Happy Ramadan or a solemn Ramadan in the spirit of recognizing this important time for Muslims around the world, especially in my neighborhood. I can't wait to celebrate with you on Eid al Fitr!