More Ramadan tidbits

*There are some reported health and scientific benefits to Ramadan.

Scientists, according to a report in the Boston Globe, have come to see the huge benefit to them of Arab cultures that completely switch their lifestyles for a month every year. They are vast laboratories for studying circadian rhythms and how they affect humans. People are eating at about 5 a.m. and at about 7 p.m. with nothing in between, staying up late and slowing down during the day.

People here say that fasting is good for the body, allowing 12 to 14 hour periods in which the digestive system goes unused. "It gives our tummy a rest," as one co-worker told us. At the very least, Ramadan forces smokers and over-eaters to cut down.

*Our newsroom is shut down by about 4 every day, although some people are surprised at how much activity going on before then lively meetings, people hurrying to get photos and stories. In many offices, you'll find people lazing at their desks, yawning and tired. We've found that the time between 4 and about 7 when you can break fast is VERY LONG. Naps help, but not TV where people are liable to be eating. The worst thing is driving on the way home past bakeries. I wanted to eat my arm yesterday.

*One of the ideas of Ramadan is to make the fortunate think of the poor for whom fasting is not a seasonal event. So this month is for beggars like summer for beach hotel owners. They are pretty evident along the sidewalk near our place, sitting cross-legged on the sidewalk collecting coins.

*One of our reporters did an article on Ramadan for non-Muslims for an online Arabic news service. He mentioned that we were observing the fast out of respect for the religion and our co-workers as part of an interesting article about the season. Well, some 178 people responded to the article with comments. We haven't had them all translated, but we are told that most of them about us fall into two categories... readers who think it is a nice gesture and more skeptical readers who say no way we are fasting. It's too hard. The effect of this, of course, is to INSURE that we stick to the rules. How embarrassing would it be to see a photo taken with telephoto lens through the kitchen window of one of us stuffing down a buttered baguette during daylight hours?

*I've compared Ramadan to the Christmas season already. Just as there are special greetings for Christmas time, they have them for Ramadan. Instead of Goodbye during this month you say Saha Ftourek -- like have a good meal to break the fast. Happy Ramadan is common and that one slays me since superficially it's like saying Have fun not eating, not smoking and being celibate! The saying, however, most gets at the spirit of Ramadan which is all about taking stock, getting closer to spirituality, being nicer to fellow man. All of which, again, is very Decemberish. And Muslims, like Catholics, wonder why the whole year can't be more like this special season.