Each year as part of Ramadan, which began this year on Aug. 1, millions of Muslims worldwide will fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset. But the monthlong holiday is about much more than fasting. TIME takes a look at the things you might not know about the holy month
It's Not Just 'No Eating' ...
Marton Magocsi / EPA
... It's "no drinking" too: Muslims drink not even a drop of water from dawn to dusk. In addition to not eating or drinking anything all day, they also abstain from excesses like cigarettes and sex. Yet despite the fasting, Ramadan in most Muslim countries is an interesting mix of austerity and celebration. While they abstain from many things during the day, after sunset families and friends often visit with one other, filling the streets of major cities with food and laughter until the wee hours.A date is traditionally the first thing eaten to break the fast, followed by juice or jallab — a sweet drink made from dates, rose water and carob that is usually served with floating pine nuts and raisins. In Egypt, dates, a traditional Ramadan food, are harvested in different farms and oases across the country, as well as imported from North Africa and the Arabian Gulf states. The best dates are often given catchy names by their vendors to help market them. In 2006, after Israel's war against Lebanon, the best dates were called Hassan Nasrallah, after the leader of Lebanon's Hizballah. In 2009, after the U.S. President made a visit to Cairo, the best dates were called Obama. This year, the most prized dates are called Martyrs of the Revolution. Tahrir Square is another favorite.Religious baby names aren't unusual across any faith; however, when devout Catholics choose to reflect their faith in their child's name, they often go the way of a saint, like Mary, or the way of a virtue, like Grace. You'd be hard-pressed to find a baby named Lent. Not the case with Ramadan, as the religious observance has also become a common name for Muslim baby boys. While the name was a more popular choice in the '90s than it is now, Ramadan could be making a comeback. According to the website BabyCenter, the name's popularity has been steadily climbing since 2005.