Family is key in Ramadan

Name: Ali Attalla

Age: 24

Occupation: Student advisor in sales

Nationality: Iraq

Emirate of residence: Dubai

In the UAE: For 10 years

“Ramadan to me translates to two words — food and family. Many of you might laugh but honestly, you can’t deny that the food in Ramadan tastes different from the food you have on a daily basis. You spend most of the day fasting (and thinking of what you will eat) that by the time you actually eat, you appreciate what’s on your plate more than anything else. In my family, we always gather at my grandmother’s house to end our fast together. It is something that we have done for as long as I can remember. It is an extraordinary feeling to gather about 25 people under one roof to end their fast together.

“Every year, my grandmother clears the living room, and we all sit on the floor and eat together. However, what signifies this gathering is that every year, we all get a specific seating that we have to adhere to throughout the month and the hilarious part of this is that there’s always someone who mixes his or her seat up, resulting in an argument about where to sit! It is these small and silly moments that can make or break someone’s day, in my case, it’s definitely the highlight of my day. Having studied in London for eight years, I definitely appreciate and cherish these moments more than anything else.

“I remember spending Ramadan and fasting alone in London, and it was awful because unity is key during this month. On some days I would be so tired that I wouldn’t even have the strength to cook, resulting in calling a nearby restaurant to order food. At the time, it was simply my reality so I didn’t think much about it, but being back home with my family, I definitely value my time with them more. Here, for example, I would end my fast with eating a date, whereas I don’t think that I have ever bought dates in London.

“Another significant part of spending Ramadan at home with the family is team work. On a weekly basis, my grandmother would cook food that we would later package and distribute to mosques and family friends, which gives you a great perspective on life.

“Although it might have been easier to fast in London, mainly due to the climate, being surrounded by family is priceless.

“A specific tradition to my family is that every day, my grandmother would pick someone’s favourite dish and make that so every day one person gets to pick what he or she likes the most, and by the end of the month, we would have gone through everyone’s favourite.”