Ramadan 2021

[R56Cooper]

Afternoon all

For the first time ever I'm working quite closely with a Muslim colleague.

I expect she'll be observing Ramadan and just wondered if there was any greeting that I could say to her or perhaps a small gift that is traditional?

At Christmas she gave me a Christmas card and some chocolates for my kids so was just wanting to reciprocate with a similar gesture.

Don't know a great about Ramadan and would be very interested for any insights from Muslim PH'rs!

Thanks

[Sheets Tabuer]

Ramadan Mubarak is I believe the greeting during the festival

[Mr Pointy]

If she's observing it don't munch a choccy bar in front of her. Just be a bit cognisant that it's pretty tough by about 3 in the afternoon when you haven't eaten or drunk anything all day.

[red_slr]

Which country they from?

[colin_p]

Switch from ham sandwiches to cheese and pickle.

[gazza285]

When one stupid comment is removed by the mods, don't worry, there will be another along shortly...

[pobot]

I found this Twitter thread useful: https://twitter.com/areej_abuali/status/1379060913...

[sherman]

Morrisons is doing a Ramadan food box
https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/box/ramadan-b...
Only £33

[Spare tyre]

I used to work in Middle East, I got given a little jar of sugar coated nuts and sweets etc, I’m not a Muslim but everyone got the same

[Mr E]

As above, try and be sensible and not scoff pies in front of those observing.

Don’t, for example, stick sunset times to the vending machines and then scoff chocolate out of it. Kameran hated that.

A gift of sweets or similar for Eid may be appropriate. Kam used to bring some in for all to share.

[Gareth1974]

Medjool dates are traditional gifts I gather - and they're lovely (IMO).

[R56Cooper]

pobot said:

I found this Twitter thread useful: https://twitter.com/areej_abuali/status/1379060913...

Excellent just what I was after thanks

[Countdown]

R56Cooper said:

Afternoon all

For the first time ever I'm working quite closely with a Muslim colleague.

I expect she'll be observing Ramadan and just wondered if there was any greeting that I could say to her or perhaps a small gift that is traditional?

At Christmas she gave me a Christmas card and some chocolates for my kids so was just wanting to reciprocate with a similar gesture.

Don't know a great about Ramadan and would be very interested for any insights from Muslim PH'rs!

Thanks

As Sheets said “Ramadan Mubarak” is fine. You could get a card but tbh we normall send each other gifs via WhatsApp

Feel free to ask me anything you like. One thing i would suggest is not making a big deal about it. I remember HR once sending an email around asking staff not to eat in the vicinity of Muslim colleagues. - speaking personally I would not want anybody to have to change what they were doing to accommodate me.

Having said that I’d also suggest not standing next to them and slowly listing all the foods that you couldn’t live without whilst eating a massive piece of chocolate cake

[Ruskie]

Absolute bonus for me, reduced office hours, and I am trying to shift some timber so win win

[IanUAE]

16 years and counting of living in the Middle East. We are requested not to eat and drink at our desks. Tea / coffee can be drunk in the pantries (but under current covid rules we are only allowed 1 person at a time in the pantries...).

But as we are predominantly working from home, this is not a problem. As to the reduced working hours, don't think I have ever worked less hours during ramadan.

As a golden rule, we make sure we are not driving just before iftar (end of the daily fast) as the driving gets more frantic than normal.

[I-A]

R56Cooper said:

Afternoon all

For the first time ever I'm working quite closely with a Muslim colleague.

I expect she'll be observing Ramadan and just wondered if there was any greeting that I could say to her or perhaps a small gift that is traditional?

At Christmas she gave me a Christmas card and some chocolates for my kids so was just wanting to reciprocate with a similar gesture.

Don't know a great about Ramadan and would be very interested for any insights from Muslim PH'rs!

Thanks

Ramadhaan Mubarak or Ramadhaan Kareem.

Dates are usually a good gift.

Eid marks the end of the month - if you wanted to gift anything, this would be the best time I'd say.

[hulksta]

Mr E said:

As above, try and be sensible and not scoff pies in front of those observing.

Don’t, for example, stick sunset times to the vending machines and then scoff chocolate out of it. Kameran hated that.

A gift of sweets or similar for Eid may be appropriate. Kam used to bring some in for all to share.

As someone who will be observing Ramadan, it is part of my faith, beliefs etc. etc., therefore the fasting I do is for myself.
I do not expect or ask anyone to go out of their way to not eat in front of me whilst at work. I actually get upset that someone will do that.

However, on another note for the OP, the end of the month on Eid may be a time you may want to give a gift because that is our Christmas so to speak.

[R56Cooper]

I-A said:

R56Cooper said:

Afternoon all

For the first time ever I'm working quite closely with a Muslim colleague.

I expect she'll be observing Ramadan and just wondered if there was any greeting that I could say to her or perhaps a small gift that is traditional?

At Christmas she gave me a Christmas card and some chocolates for my kids so was just wanting to reciprocate with a similar gesture.

Don't know a great about Ramadan and would be very interested for any insights from Muslim PH'rs!

Thanks

Ramadhaan Mubarak or Ramadhaan Kareem.

Dates are usually a good gift.

Eid marks the end of the month - if you wanted to gift anything, this would be the best time I'd say.

Perfect, thanks - was wondering when a gift would normally be given so thanks for that.

[hulksta]

R56Cooper said:

Perfect, thanks - was wondering when a gift would normally be given so thanks for that.

The dates this year if required are 13th April - 12/13th May.

Eid will be 13th or 14th May.

[RMDB9]

We give gifts as in large boxes of nicely decorated sweets etc.

Easy to procure in "Asian" shops, whereas more difficult to find in "European" shops.