Skeleton Ramadan

The ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar is the holy month of Ramadan. It's a month of worship, charity and the betterment of one's self. In that month, social gatherings with family and friends are a daily routine. The biggest of those gatherings is at sunset when all Muslims break their fast and eat the Ramadan feast.


Back home, all of my family gathers around. We wait for the sound of "Athan" from mosques that echoes into the sky signaling the end of fast for the day. Around the meal we'd be talking about our day, laughing and enjoying each others' company. We'd be praying and thanking god for successfully fasting that day and for the people around us.

In Ramadan, there's a special atmosphere. You can feel it the moment they announce it's start. People, places and even food are all different. Streets and shops are decorated with festive colors and decorations. The "Hilal" or the new moon is the symbol for Ramadan that is used in most advertisements and decorations related to the month, in addition to traditional Islamic motifs.


Living here in Seattle, Ramadan is different. I might even say nonexistent. There are no decorations, no echoing mosques and no family to gather around at sunset. My daily habits are divided between sleeping, playing video games and other time-killing activities. Seattle has a loooong day time during Ramadan. After coming back from school, instead of having around three hours until sunset, I have six! So, killing time is a habit that I've learned. My breakfast is less festive as well. A simple Mediterranean meal with dates is my normal go-to meal in Ramadan. Also, I have become a night owl, staying up all night until the time I start fasting. That is to make sure I am consuming food to the fullest all night long before I start to fast again.
It's not a bad thing though. I'm living a new experience, enjoying my surroundings. I know I will appreciate Ramadan back home even more now.