A Palestinian man sells Ramadan lanterns in Jerusalem's Old City, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua)
CAIRO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan will start on Saturday, the traditional decorative lanterns garnish the streets and light up the evenings in Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Palestine.
Although prices of goods have increased in many countries ahead of Ramadan amid Russia-Ukraine conflict, many Muslims still purchase lanterns, dates, candies and nuts to celebrate the holy month.
Traditional Ramadan lanterns, or fanoos in Arabic, originated in Egypt hundreds of years ago, when they served to light dark streets, but later became toys to add joy for children and families.
During the month-long Ramadan, Muslims usually abstain from eating, drinking, and smoking from sunrise to sunset.
Children pose for photos with a lantern ahead of the holy month of Ramadan at a lantern market in Cairo, Egypt, on March 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
A man takes photos of lanterns ahead of the holy month of Ramadan at a market in Cairo, Egypt, on March 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
A Yemeni vendor holds a decorative lantern at a market in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, on March 31, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)
Syrians are seen shopping decorations for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan in the capital Damascus on March 27, 2022 (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
People buy Ramadan decorations in a store in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
A vendor displays lanterns on the eve of the first day of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 1, 2022. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
A girl holds a lantern at Al-Zawiya market ahead of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City, March 28, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)■
