BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Celebrating Ramadan

By Zara Rahman, age 10 | April 21, 2023

Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published.

A MEANINGFUL MONTH Zara Rahman, a fourth grader at West University Elementary, sits by Ramadan decorations, holding a date in her hand. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims typically break their daily fast with a date.

Ramadan is a special month in the Islamic lunar calendar when Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. The lunar calendar is based on phases of the moon. Historically the month would be decided based on lunar sightings, but these days, astronomical calculations are used to determine the start and end of the months. The lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the solar calendar, so the month of Ramadan changes every year. This year, Ramadan started March 22 at sundown. Eid marks the end of Ramadan, and this year it falls on April 21. To better understand the celebration of Eid, it’s important to first understand about the sacrifice and meaning behind Ramadan.

I bet you’re wondering how Ramadan is a holiday and a sacrifice. First, while fasting you wake up early each day before sunrise and eat a meal called suhoor. At dawn, there is no more eating or drinking (not even water) until sundown, when a meal called iftar is eaten. Iftar is more than just dinner – it is a celebration with family and friends to end the fast you just completed. Typically, Muslims break their fasts with a date fruit. I know not eating or drinking all day might seem like torture, but it is amazing what our bodies are capable of. For kids my age (10) you can fast for half a day by refraining from food and drink between noon and iftar time. Muslims are also supposed to work on improving themselves during Ramadan, by avoiding any bad deeds like lying, stealing, or cheating. We also fast to feel empathy for the poor and those who don’t have food, to be thankful for what we have, and to learn self-discipline. Ramadan is also a month when Muslims should give charity to the less fortunate.

Now let’s talk about Eid, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. On Eid, Muslims dress up, go to mosque for morning prayer, exchange gifts, go to parties, and just have fun. No sacrifice is involved on Eid. It is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan, to be thankful for the blessings that you have, and to spend time with friends and family. I hope you have enjoyed learning about Ramadan and Eid.

Want to be a Buzz Kid? Email approximately 350 words, a high-resolution photo and caption to [email protected]. Or mail it to The Buzz Magazines, 5001 Bissonnet, Suite 100, Bellaire, Texas 77401.