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ram·a·dan/ˈräməˌdän/

The ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset.

Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic religion. Food and drink are forbidden throughout the day up until sunset. The purpose of this practice is to essentially, put yourself in someone else’s shoe; to feel that the less fortunate feel. At the end of this month Eid comes around where everyone celebrates and feasts are held for three days. There are two Eids in the Islamic calendar, each celebrating different occasions and are 2 months and 10 days apart of each other.

How Ramadan is practiced in the Middle East is by feasting EVERYDAY. As soon as the sun begins to set, the dining table begins to disappear beneath huge plates of various foods. Then everyone falls into a food coma for a few hours until they regain consciousness and go to someone else’s home and eat some more. The purpose of visiting others is to gain good deeds for feeding someone who is hungry, but you’re not very hungry if you’ve just devoured an entire lamb. It’s unfortunate that culture gets mixed into religion sometimes.

When a few of my fellow classmates participated in the welfare challenge, it made me realize the resource that I’ve had all my life that I’ve abused and misused all my life. I was given this great opportunity to annually remember and feel what so many people within our community feel everyday, and I’ve been doing it wrong my whole life!

So for next year, I hope to fast properly, the way it was intended to be. I will face a lot of cultural challenges because I am usually in the Middle East around that time since it happens to be during the summer during this decade. It will be hard to refuse delicious homemade feasts and turn away pistachio filled desserts but I will get through it.

People do the 30 hour famine, or the $26 welfare challenge, I can most definitely practice something I truly believe in to its fullest.

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