We were not in Istanbul during Ramadan. I think it would be a very difficult time to travel in a Muslim country, because of the strict rules about behavior in public.

Note that in the Muslim calander, Ramadan is a holiday that begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observant Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Sunday, the 1st of September, in 2008. The period of the moon is approximately 29 days, so it will end on September 30.

During Ramadan, the Muslims cannot eat, smoke or drink (even water) from the time the sun rises to the time the sun sets. Allegedly following the habits of The Prophet, each day (and period of fasting) begins and ends by eating a fig. In some Islamic countries restaurants are closed during the day during Ramadan. In more extreme countries it is even illegal to eat in public during daylight hours. Fortunately, we left Turkey just before the beginning of Ramadan. We understand that people get pretty testy during the fast.

Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Ramadan. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eyes. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being hotly debated.

When is Ramadan?

# 2008 - 1st of September through Tuesday, the 30th of September

# 2009 - 21st of August through Saturday, the 19th of September

# 2010 - 11th of August through Thursday, the 9th of September

# 2011 - 1st of August through Tuesday, the 30th of August

# 2012 - 20th of July through Saturday, the 18th of August

# 2013 - 9th of July through Wednesday, the 7th of August

# 2014 - 28th of June through Sunday, the 27th of July

# 2015 - 18th of June through Friday, the 17th of July

# 2016 - 6th of June through Tuesday, the 5th of July

# 2017 - 27th of May through Sunday, the 25th of June

CLICK HERE for a list of other Muslim holidays.

Photos courtesy of onlineathens.com