Ramadan
Every day during Ramadan, Muslims read their holy book, the Koran.
The long fast
If a person chooses not to eat or drink for a while, he or she “fasts.”
Muslims—people who follow the Islamic religion—fast for a month
every year.
Both the long fast and the month are called Ramadan (ram uh
[dahn).]{.smallcaps} This is the ninth month of the Islamic year (see
page 28). Because the Islamic calendar is based on the moon, the date of
Ramadan changes. In the 1980’s in the northern part of the world,
Ramadan was observed in the spring. By the year 2000, it will be
observed in the winter.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. They fast to
have their sins forgiven. Those who for some reason cannot fast must
make up the days they miss.
In the daytime, Muslims work less and
spend more time praying and reading their holy book, called the Koran.
A new moon brings an end to Ramadan and the start of Id
al-Fitr—“Festival of the
Breaking of the Fast.”
This holiday festival may last for several days. People eat when they
please. They often put on new clothes, visit friends, and exchange
gifts. In Turkey, children know this festival as the Sugar Festival.
It’s a time to enjoy rahat lokoum—Turkish delight—colorful cubes of
gelatin candy covered with powdered sugar.
During Ramadan, people in some countries go to puppet shows at night.
The puppets, made of camel skin, are worked from behind a lighted
screen. The people see only the shadows on the screen.
