Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, has just started for many people around the world.
According to CNN, during Ramadan, Islamic people fast from sunrise to sundown. The times of sun rise and sun down times change every year due to when the holiday falls with the time changes around the countries. Muslim holidays are observed according to the Islamic Calendar and Ramadan is always celebrated in the ninth month following the observation of the crescent moon. If the crescent moon happens on February 28th then Ramadan begins onMarch 1st.
Muslims look forward to celebrating Ramadan just like how people who practice other religions celebrate Christmas, Lunar New Year, Hanukkah, and many other holidays. Some local students share their excitement for this religious celebration.
“I feel very excited because it’s the month that I’m looking forward to the whole year,” said New Hartford Senior High School student Anaab Farooq. “I start preparing the decor and picking outfits out because I can’t wait for it to come already.”
The holiday Ramadan is exciting for some, but it can also be a life-changing event for others.
“As Ramadan approaches, I feel a mix of excitement and reflection,” said New Hartford Senior Emerald Abdallah. “It’s a time for growth, self-discipline, and strengthening my connection with my faith. I am excited for the sense of community, the peaceful atmosphere, and the opportunity to focus on self-improvement.”
Ramadan is not just about fasting, but it is also about praying multiple times a day and going to the mosque at night.
“During Ramadan, many Muslims go to the mosque and spend several hours praying,” reports Brandeis University. “In addition to the five daily prayers that are part of the core of Islam, Muslims recite a special prayer called the Tarawih prayer (night prayer). ”
Ramadan is a celebration of their holy book, the Holy Quran, being brought down to show men and women about salvation and direction of life.
Celebrating Ramadan brings family and friends together for the holiday. While seeing each other in the mosque they get together sometimes to enjoy their long-awaited meal together at sundown.
“The most exciting part is being able to meet up with friends and family in the masjid and being able to pray and have iftaar ( the time they break their fast and can eat ) with your loved ones which makes it very fun,” said Anaab Farooq.
“The most exciting part of Ramadan for me is the sense of community and the feeling of accomplishment after a long day of fasting,” Emerald Abdallah said. “I love gathering with family and friends for iftar, enjoying all the food! The atmosphere of Ramadan makes it a really special time of the year!”
During Ramadan there are many cultural foods that Muslims eat to celebrate when their fast is over for the night.
“During Ramadan, I enjoy a lot of traditional Egyptian foods that make iftar even better! Some of my favorites are grape leaves( rice, and vegetables inside a grape leaf ), koshari masri( rice, lentil beans, tomato sauce, onions, and pasta ), and bashamel ( it is similar to lasagna but a bashamel sauce is used instead then there is is pasta and beef ),”said Emerald Abdallah. “These dishes are my favorite foods after a long day of fasting! It can also bring back a sense of tradition and family. We also have classic Ramadan drinks like karkade which is hibiscus tea. These drinks are refreshing after fasting all day!”
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate a special holiday that is called Eid al-Fitr. It is the celebration on the last night of fasting for the people they get together to have a last meal together. They are allowed to exchange gifts at this gathering with friends and family. It is also a tradition to give to charities.
“We participate in Ramadan because it is a holy month where we try and better ourselves and try to keep this routine for the year,” said Anaab Farooq. “It’s a month of blessings where you get even more rewards for your good deeds and you try to be the best version of yourself.”
