Concepts & Affairs

Ramadan and the Gregorian Calendar

Source: The Sun

By Becky Pemberton

Millions of Muslims are now observing Ramadan, a holy month of fasting and religious devotion. The festival falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar – but what is it and why does the start date vary from year to year?

This year Ramadan started on May 27 and will finish on June 24, both Saturdays. Following this, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which is often known as Eid.

The Eid celebration, which is to be held on June 25, marks the end of the Ramadan fasting and the start of the next month, Shawwal. The Islamic calendar is different from the widely-used Gregorian calendar. It is based on the moon’s cycle, whereas the Gregorian one is determined by the sun. As the two don’t align, the Islamic dates move back by 11 days each year.

Show More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close