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Ramadan

proper noun

  1. ninth month of the Islamic calendar
L1311836 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɹæməˈdɑːn/ / /ˈɹæmədæn/ / /ɹɑːməˈdɑːn/

name

Etymology: Etymology tree Arabic رَمَضَان (ramaḍān)bor. English Ramadan Borrowed from Arabic رَمَضَان (ramaḍān).

  1. The holy ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast between the break of dawn until sunset; they also refrain from drinking liquids, smoking and having sexual relations.

    Sizzling kebabs, delicious kheer and the ever popular haleem -it's a clear sign that Ramadan sure brings with it a culinary awakening. At the same time, Ramadan is all about discipline and faith.

    This Tuesday and Wednesday, four holidays from different cultures and religions overlap in a rare calendar year. The celebrations of Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) and Lunar New Year both occur on Tuesday, Feb. 17 [2026]. This won't happen again until Feb. 13, 2029, according to the websites chinahighlights.com and mardigrasneworleans.com. Ramadan is expected to start Tuesday evening, pending official confirmation, and Lent ([which begins on] Ash Wednesday) begins on Feb. 18. Last year, Ramadan and Lent began within a week of each other on Feb. 28 and March 5. The holidays are all happening within two days this year because several long solar, lunar and lunisolar calendar cycles sync up. Lunar New Year happens on the second new moon after winter solstice, which is also Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) — 47 days before Easter Sunday.

  2. A male given name from Arabic, of Muslim usage.