"No, these are just names. The buyer chooses according to the date's taste," he said.

Although it is a month for spiritual renewal, many people also festively decorate and spend more money and care preparing food for their loved ones, such as Fawzia.

"I spend it like any Muslim spends it," she said. "We have good days, we pray and fast. We make nice food and invite friends and family and we are also invited."

Egyptian parents also buy colorful lanterns called fanous for their children to play with after breaking the day's fast, singing rhymes and asking for treats.

"We fast and pray and wake up in the night to pray, and we buy lanterns for the children," said Abdel Hakim.

But all the faithful spend the month in reflective prayer, for Muslims believe this was the month God revealed the first chapters of their holy book to the Prophet Muhammad.