What is Ramadan?

The Muslim holiday of Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, prayer, reading the Qur’an, refraining from bad behavior, and doing acts if charity.

Ramadan is the month that Muslims are celebrating when the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Learn more about Islam (the religion) in this fabulous article by Maroc Mama.

When is Ramadan celebrated?

Because Islam uses a lunar calendar (based on the moon), the dates of Ramadan vary every year. In 2016, Ramadan begins on the evening of June 5th, and finishes the evening of July 5th.

Because the moon can be seen at different times in different parts of the world, the first day of Ramadan can vary slightly from country to country.

How is Ramadan celebrated?

For one month, from dawn until dusk, people fast (refrain from eating and drinking) in order to develop self-discipline and increasing awareness and empathy for the poor. Families eat a meal pre-dawn called a “suhoor” and break the fast after sunset each day with a meal known as “iftar,” often shared with family and friends.

Children, while they might not fast, do read from the Qur’an, pray, and partake in acts of kindness (see this calendar for “Ramadan Jar: 30 days of good deeds,” from In the Playroom or this Ramadan Kindness Calendar from Sand in my Toes).

At the end of the month, families and friends celebrate “The Breaking of the Fast,” known as Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid is a three-day holiday that includes special prayers and meals. Families pray at the mosque, thank God for sending them the Qur’an, and have special parties with new clothes, gifts, and delicious food.

If you are still asking “What is Ramadan?” and “How do Muslim families celebrate it?” one of my favorite posts about Ramadan is “Creating Joy in Ramadan for Kids” by Ayesha Siddiqua from Words n’ Needles. She says

We all remember our childhood with beautiful memories of how we spent Ramadan as children.. how beautiful it felt to be sitting down with their family members. It was always fun to break the fast with siblings and parents but those of us who have been lucky to have spent our growing years surrounded by cousins and grandparents, we know how much fun that was too. That was what the real joy was.

Ayesha has collected a selection of printable activities and crafts for kids to learn about Ramadan and how Muslims celebrate their holy month.

What is eaten during Ramadan?

Words ‘n’ Needles shared these 5 recipes from her Saudi kitchen for Ramadan.

Al Arabiya has the top 15 Ramadan drinks and dishes.

What are some good books for kids about Ramadan?

Click on the pictures to find books about Ramadan for kids:

The Colors of Us also has a list of 20+ books about Ramadan for kids.

Multicultural Kid Blogs is proud to be hosting its second annual Ramadan for Kids blog hop, where bloggers come together to share ideas for teaching kids about and honoring Ramadan. Don’t forget to check out our series from last year and follow our Ramadan board on Pinterest for even more ideas and link up your own posts below!

What is Ramadan? Find out More in Our Participating Blogs

ArabBaba on Multicultural Kid Blogs
All Done Monkey
Kid World Citizen
A Crafty Arab
Creative World of Varya
Crafty Moms Share
Global Advocate Jr.
Colours of Us
La Cité des Vents