Iraqis welcome Ramadhan with rituals and traditions that have been passed down for generations. Lanterns and special ornaments decorate every street corner, and the holy month is welcomed through the loudspeakers of mosques and houses of worship. Copies of calendars which show the times for the pre-dawn meal (Suhour), prayers and breaking of the fast (Iftar) at dusk are printed and distributed for free. Families stock up their homes with food and soft drinks for those fasting, and markets and shopping malls become busier ahead of—and during—the month.

Delicate dishes

Iftar tables in Iraq traditionally stand out from what one would find in Iraqi homes at other times of the year. Dishes include different types of legumes as well as fish and meat recipes which are high in fat and require a lot of time to prepare. Dates, yogurt, and lentil soup are regularly seen on Iftar tables throughout...