Muharram is the first month of the Muslim year. The tenth day is the anniversary of the murder of the Prophet Mohammed's son-in-law, Ali, and his grandson, Imam Hussain. Shia Muslims, the minority, keep this as a day of mourning, a practice shared by Sunni Muslims in countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, northern India and southern Lebanon, where the Prophet's family is venerated, Rambunctious new year festivities are precluded, but nonetheless, sweet foods are prepared for guests and sent as gifts to neighbors.

Many countries have traditional dishes made at this time of year. In Turkey, for example, the day is celebrated as the anniversary of Adams first meeting with Eve and the day when Noah realized the flood was subsiding. Asure (pronounced ash-or-a), a mixture of wheat berries with chickpeas, raisins, and nuts, is always made for this time of year. All the festive dishes at Muharram are confections or desserts rather than main dishes.