Lent and Ramadan

[tonychanyt]

This year, Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and will end on Holy Saturday, April 17. During these 40 days, many Christians fast from meat, luxury foods, alcohol, coffee, entertainment, or specific habits as a form of spiritual discipline.

For Muslims, Ramadan started on Fri, Feb 28 and will end on Mar 29. It is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. They abstain from food, drink (including water), smoking, and sexual intercourse.

This year, the periods of Lent and Ramadan overlap. This is not always the case because Lent depends on the Gregorian solar calendar while Ramadan uses the Islamic lunar calendar.

Torontonians experience both. I love Toronto.

 

[RamiC]

The number 40 is a significant biblical number. In Genesis, the flood was after 40 days and nights of rain (Genesis 7.12, 17). Moses and the Hebrews spent 40 years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 29.5). Moses fasted for 40 days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34.28). Nineveh had 40 days to repent (Jonah 3.4). In the New Testament, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness, and later Jesus spent 40 days after the resurrection before his ascension (Acts 1.3). In fact, in many languages the word used for Lent comes from the Latin Quadragesima meaning fortieth including Y Grawys in Welsh, Cuaresma in Spanish, Carême in French, and Quaresima in Italian.

What is Lent all about?