During Ramadan You Can't Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time

Consider yourself warned:

Britain and the United States have issued special travel warnings for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins next Monday, and even chewing gum may be a problem for tourists.

“All Mission employees and family members are advised to exercise extra vigilance and avoid large crowds during the upcoming month of Ramadan,” advised the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem.”

The British Foreign Office told its citizens to be sensitive to Muslim customs during Ramadan and singled out the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a target for terrorists.

“You should be aware that levels of observance of Ramadan will vary in different countries and cultures, but most Muslims will conform to some extent with the requirements of the fast - that they fast between dawn and sunset,” The Foreign Office stated,

“This means they can’t eat, drink, smoke or even chew gum during daylight hours. Muslims use this time of abstention for prayer, contemplation and charitable work.”

Boy, Ramadan seems to come earlier every year.

(Old joke - the Islamic calendar is only 354 days long, so Ramadan comes 11 or 12 days earlier every year.)