Ramadan starts at different times around the world based on when communities determine the crescent moon has been sighted and which start-date methods various Islamic authorities use. Observant Muslims typically mark the month with daily fasting from dawn to sunset, and many also increase worship, reflection and charitable giving as the Islamic holy period begins.
The month is observed as part of Islam’s broader framework of worship. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, a schedule that moves through the seasons over time rather than staying aligned with a single time of year. For Muslims, the month’s practices are widely described as an act of worship and submission to God, with many believers also pointing to lessons such as self-restraint, gratitude and empathy for people who are poor and hungry.
Start dates can vary even within the same country when local communities follow different religious determinations. This year, the first day of Ramadan is expected to be on or around Feb. 18 or 19, with the timing tied to declarations about whether the crescent had been sighted and to how different authorities calculate the beginning of the month.
For many Muslims, the daily fast involves strict limits on what people take in during daylight hours. The fast includes abstaining from all food and drink—from dawn until sunset—with believers breaking the fast at a meal known as “iftar” in Arabic. Before the next day’s fasting begins, Muslims eat a predawn meal called “suhoor,” described as a time to hydrate and sustain the body ahead of the daylong fast.
Ramadan also includes communal worship. Many Muslims gather at mosques for congregational prayers and devote more time to religious contemplation and to reading the Quran, Islam’s holy book. Charity is highlighted as another hallmark of the month, with many people seeking to provide iftar for those in need, distributing “Ramadan boxes” filled with pantry staples, or handing out warm meals that can include items such as dates and juice, as well as supporting communal free meals.
The observance also includes allowances for people who cannot fast. Certain exemptions apply, including for those who are unable to fast because of illness or travel, with those who miss fasting days typically expected to make up for the missed days later.
Beyond the core religious practices, Ramadan can take on distinctive cultural and social rhythms in different places. The month’s traditions can be shaped by local customs as well as by religion, and some practices may be shared across borders while others differ by country and community. Many social rituals center on gathering and socializing after the daily fast, and in some places families decorate homes and prepare Ramadan-themed tableware and centerpieces.
In Egypt, Ramadan is described as typically festive, with colorful lanterns and Ramadan songs used to welcome the month. The predawn tradition has included a “mesaharati” who roams neighborhoods, calling out to wake people for suhoor; the account describes drums used in the predawn soundscape, sometimes even naming residents to rouse them before the fasting begins.
In some regions, Ramadan’s visibility has also drawn debate about commercialization. In various places, some Muslims worry that the month is becoming commercialized, pointing to emphasis on decorations, TV shows, outings or lavish iftar banquets that they say can distract from the religious essence. Others argue that a balance can be struck, saying that such rituals in moderation can fit within Ramadan’s festive spirit.
Ramadan practices are also described as varied across Indonesia, reflecting local diversity. In deeply conservative Aceh province, the account describes animal slaughter for Meugang festivities, with meat prepared and shared with family, friends, poor people and orphans. In Tangerang outside Jakarta, the report describes hundreds of residents gathering at the Cisadane River to wash their hair with rice straw shampoo as a symbolic form of spiritual cleansing for the month.
In the United States, where Muslims are a racially and ethnically diverse minority, the report describes how gathering at mosques or Islamic centers for iftar meals and prayers can give many families a sense of community, including through interfaith iftar gatherings in some areas.
As Ramadan arrives, it also overlaps in timing with a major Christian fasting and reflection season. This year, the start of Ramadan is expected around the same time as Ash Wednesday, the solemn day that signals the start of Lent for Catholics and many other Christians.