This year, Ramadan (or Ramadhan) starts today, September 1st, and will continue for 30 days until September 30th. In Spain that is. It is more complicated than it appears. Since the moon does not have the same constellation everywhere at the same time, Ramadan gets observed with slight variations, depending upon the country and region.

Islam uses a lunar calendar – that means, each month begins with the sighting of the New Moon. Because the Lunar calendar is some days shorter than the Solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays move each year.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The month of Ramadan is when it is believed the Holy Qur’an “was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation”.

It is considered the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year. Prayers, sawm (fasting), charity, and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month.

To break the daytime fast, Moroccan Muslims like to eat Shebakhia (in my photo), a traditional sweet dessert composed of flour, butter, sesame seeds, yeast, saffron, cinnamon, vegetable oil and honey. Yum. Delicious.

The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: August 22nd, 2008. The time was 17:39:19.