From feasts to frugality: Egyptians reshape ramadan customs amid price pressures
As ramadan approaches, many Egyptians are trading ornate iftar spreads and abundant bowls of nuts for smaller portions, thriftier sweets and a renewed focus on family and faith. Price shifts over recent years have nudged shoppers toward cheaper staples, while government support and market adaptations are trying to keep the month’s traditions alive.
Price shifts reshape what ends up on the table
Recent figures show the cost of some Ramadan-specific items rose about 25 percent year on year, changing the mix of goods purchased for the holy month. Long-favored items such as imported cashews, almonds and pistachios have moved steadily out of reach for many households, prompting a move to cheaper alternatives like peanuts and coconuts. Meanwhile, sales of mixed dried-fruit and nut assortments—known locally as yameesh—have fallen roughly 30 percent even as imports of those products increased by about 30 percent, reflecting higher supplier costs that have not translated into renewed consumer demand.
Market sellers across Cairo’s traditional shopping districts note sharp price swings. Lanterns and decorative items once purchased cheaply are now often sold at two to three times their former prices. Many vendors respond by offering tiered product lines—basic, midrange and premium—so shoppers can match purchases to tight budgets.
Households adjust: smaller feasts, more focus on meaning
For many families, the change has become less of a shock and more a settled habit. Where grand plates of kunafa, qatayef and elaborate trays of dates and sweets were once nightly features, they are now prepared selectively: reserved for a few special gatherings rather than every evening. The nightly exchange of desserts with neighbours has also declined.
That economizing has not extinguished the spirit of the month. "I am honestly fed up with people ruining our Ramadan by constantly complaining about prices, " said 63-year-old Umm Saleh of Ain Shams in Cairo. She described skipping trips to the nut shop this year but remaining determined to focus on worship and family meals. Her perspective reflects a wider pragmatism: many households say that after several years of inflationary pressure, the emphasis during ramadan has shifted back to faith and social bonds rather than display.
State measures, social pressure and market responses
Authorities have stepped in with discount initiatives intended to make basic items more affordable. Staple foods such as rice, beans and lentils have been offered at reduced prices—up to around 30 percent cheaper in some discount schemes—helping low-income families maintain customary meals. In addition, a financial support package exceeding $850 million has been earmarked to assist vulnerable households during the festive period, and public-sector salaries were paid early to boost purchasing power ahead of the month.
Public sentiment has been mixed. A social media campaign under the hashtag #Boycott_Yameesh has highlighted concerns that traders are slow to pass on currency gains and lower import costs to consumers, with price discrepancies of as much as 75 percent reported between richer and poorer neighbourhoods. At the same time, many vendors stress that rising transport and input costs force them to keep margins just to stay afloat.
Ramadan is expected to begin on Feb. 17 (ET) and run through March 19 (ET), and this year’s observances are likely to reflect a continued balancing act: families trimming nonessential spending while preserving the communal and spiritual rituals that define the month.
