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Ramadan Mubarak

Author: be well™ with Big Y^® Registered Dietitian Team

Learn what Ramadan is and the practices observed during this holy month while gaining a few simple and delicious recipes to add to your culinary repertoire.

Ramadan is the holiest month of the Muslim year. Taking place during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, based on a 12-month lunar year of 354 days, Ramadan focuses on self-reflection and improvement as well as increasing devotion to the Muslim religion.

Fasting During Ramadan.

Those observing Ramadan perform a month-long daytime fast. Fasting is meant to help practice self-control while showing compassion for those less fortunate than you. Before the end of Ramadan, individuals attempt to read the whole Qur’an as well as attend nightly prayers at their mosque where the entire Qur’an is recited by the end of the month. This is done to gain taqwa or a state of constant awareness of God.

Fasting during Ramadan occurs from pre-dawn until sunset. Before the sun rises, individuals will wake up to have a light meal and morning prayers. At sunset, the fast is broken with dates and water, the only strict culinary tradition of Ramadan. This is called iftar which means “breaking the fast.”

The Foods of Ramadan.

Each population enjoys different traditional dishes at dinner after sunset prayers. At night, many enjoy dinner with guests or visiting others’ homes, as well as attending a special Ramadan prayer at their mosque. The only groups exempt from fasting are children that have not reached puberty, elderly and pregnant women, the sick and those traveling.

The Final Celebration of Ramadan.

The last day of Ramadan is a major Muslim holiday called Eid al-Fitr or “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.” Morning prayers and sermons are held followed by large community celebrations chock full of food. While adults spend the day socializing and eating, children eat, play games and receive gifts from their parents.

From all of us here at Big Y, we would like to extend a blessed Ramadan to all observing this holiest of months in the Muslim religion tradition- Ramadan Mubarak.