Saudi homemakers has shown families spend a great deal more in Ramadan than during other months. A Saudi family of six spends SR7,730 – an increase of about 42 percent, whereas a non-Saudi family spends about 27 percent more than normal. These are some of the outcomes of a Saudi Gazette survey conducted in collaboration with Prince Sultan College for Business and Tourism just two weeks before the start of the holy month. The women respondents said the extra cost is primarily due to more visits by relatives and friends. The signs of increased business activity include cars double-parked outside malls, extended shopping hours, the hiring of more cashiers and cart-pushers, waiting lines at ATMs and daily newspapers assigning extra pages for food items. “It is the psychology of fasting. When you think of the next day of fasting you may unconsciously compensate by eating more,” said Hanan Al-Ageel, mother of three children and the wife of a manager of an auto-dealer service center. People prepare extra food expecting more visits from family and friends. “There are about 12 dishes and eight kinds of sweets made only during Ramadan,” said Kawther Man'nah, school principal and mother of five children. “My mother-in-law says I'm the best when it comes to home-made soups especially lentils and wheat. I take pride in what she says about my cooking. It is jealousy between sisters-in-law that men know nothing about.” More than 74 percent of respondents said they would try new products as long as the cost is not greater than what they are accustomed to buying. “Tomato paste is tomato paste! But I look at the added ingredients, packaging and the selling price of the new products,” said Fatina Shawaf, newly married to an officer pilot with NAS airlines. Newspapers and television advertisements also influence the final selection of 63 percent of respondents. Dr. Naylah Abdulmoutti, an Egyptian gynecologist with United Doctors Hospitals in Jeddah, who is a 12-year resident of Jeddah, has to manage her time properly during Ramadan. “I prepare Iftar and Suhur - the fast breaking and pre-fasting meals respectively - all in one shot. It is more convenient to me than other days where I have to prepare two to three meals at different times,” said Abdulmoutti. Full-time homemakers find it easier to prepare Ramadan meals, she said. Most fasting persons prefer to start their Iftar meal with a warm liquid such as coffee or soup, a glass of milk or yogurt and dates, perform Maghreb prayers and then sit down for the meal. Others delay their Iftar meal until after Isha prayers. Relatives are normally invited for Iftar or Suhur whereas friends are usually invited for Suhur and stay up until the early hours of the morning. With children on holiday, popular television shows and food and drink complement the social gathering. On weekends almost all families delay Suhur until right before the call for morning prayers. The five daily prayers are the pillars of the fasting month. Saudi and non-Saudi men and women are keen to perform prayers at mosque gatherings especially Isha prayers and Taraweeh, the long prayers performed only during the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is probably the only month of the year when there are greater numbers of women offering prayers at the mosques. For others the real Iftar meal begins at 10.30 P.M. and Suhur is around 3.30 A.M. There are a variety of foods on the tables of Saudis. “Rice is still the king of the Saudi table and soups, pastries and sweets follow,” said Ameena Ashie, a naturalized Saudi, mother of three married daughters, who basks in the blessing of 16 grandchildren. “Ramadan is also for the kids. We train them to fast by making each one his preferred dish. Whatever is cooked does not go to waste. What we do not consume goes to the needy and they are plenty,” wrote Ashie on her questionnaire form in capital letters. __
