Have you ever heard of a holiday called Ramadan? Ramadan is one of the most important Muslim holidays! The world has 1.8 billion Muslims! That's 24% of the population! Ramadan lasts for a whole month. It changes time every year, depending on the moon cycle. This year, it started on May 7 in Morocco. It actually started in other countries on May 6.
This is the first time that I have experienced the entire month of Ramadan in a country. I experienced parts of Ramadan in Turkey and in Morocco when I first came, but this time, I got used to life in Morocco before Ramadan so I've been able to notice the changes this time around. Every country has its own unique Ramadan traditions, especially with food!
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more effort into learning about Islam during this month. One of the most important aspects of Ramadan is the fast. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for a whole month! During the night, they eat two special meals. The first one, ftour, which comes right at sunset. Common Moroccan foods served at ftour are homemade juice, boiled eggs, a pastry called shebakia, a tomato-like soup called harira and dates.
