Our friends lived in Syria during Ramadan. They said the 'fasting' that month was only during daylight hours; the muzzies partied and ate and drank ALL NIGHT.
Same in Oklahoma City and Tulsa :-). The Persian restaurants would be open at night for the "fasting" Moslems. Plenty of gigs for belly dancers in those days, if they didn't have day jobs to go to!
In Saudi Arabia, especially from April-November the days were very long. The weather was extremely hot and those who worked (most men) did fast and it wasn't easy when Ramadan was during those months.
Not ALL ate and drank "all night" because most of the men had to work all day. Weekends were the exception, of course.
It might be hard for you to believe, but the "muzzies" did take their fasting seriously. They took their religion seriously, weren't smug about it and never tried to prostelyze (sp).
They could tell when people had or had not fasted or eaten. Apparently the complexion takes on a different color when people eat. I sure couldn't fast all day long, even if I could eat all night. Lenten rules are so easy now. "Fasting" just means eating only one big meal. Abstaining just means no meat....but one can eat all the crab, lobster or tuna one wants. No big sacrifice, imho.
I actually became MUCH closer to my religion and ended up going to Mass almost every day over there. I was able to do it during my 1/2 hour coffee break. I didn't go to Mass on the "weekends," Thurdays and Fridays.
Living in a country where religion is very important (even when it wasn't MINE) gave me the inspiration and boost to re-think my own faith. I've since fallen off a little and don't go to Mass every day. It makes a big difference living here where religion and faith are ATTACKED and not nutured. It shouldn't, but it does.
I knew they fasted, but I didn't know they also partied at night. What's the use of the fast then?
Muzzie. That is an interesting piece of verbal coinage for Muslims. Now every time I look at one of my Muzzy(R) broadheads, I will think of Osama. Thanks!