In preparation for Moulid al-Nabi, the holiday that celebrates the birth of the Prophet Mohamed, bakeries in Cairo began selling special sweets weeks ahead of time.
Last year’s holiday landed on 15 February, just days after Hosni Mubarak stepped down. Many bakeries were forced to close for at least part of the 18-day uprising, a time when business would normally have been strong. This year, it fell on 4 February.
In Dokki, the Gawharat al-Midan bakery on Tahrir Street overflowed onto the sidewalk with a glass counter displaying special halawa al-Moulid (Moulid sweets) such as Turkish Delight-type jelly-based cubes in varying colors and flavors, such as rose, coconut and orange.
Bars made of nuts glued together using honey and sugar are usually the most popular sellers, including semsemiyah (made from sesame seeds), fuliyah (made from peanuts), and hommosiyah (made from dried chickpeas). Small candies made almost entirely of sugar are formed into the shapes of fruit and flavored to match.
The sound system blasted Egyptian hits, and toy horses and dolls hang on strings tied to the awning. The prices are affordable at 15LE per half-kilo for an assortment of holiday sweets. Gift boxes are available in many sizes pre-packaged or ready for you to select your own mix. The rose-flavored Turkish Delight was spot on; it miraculously tasted exactly how a rose smells.
In Downtown, the pastry institution El Abd on Talaat Harb Street was so popular it was difficult to even step inside. Customers filled shopping baskets with six-inch bricks of honey and nuts. In the run up to the holiday, they are only selling Moulid sweets, and will return to their normal inventory after the holiday.
