We are two sisters from Yemen. Since we have been in America, we have had to celebrate Ramadan during the school year. In Yemen, the school year ends before Ramadan. It is more difficult to be in school during Ramadan.

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, worship, and prayer. We are required to fast on each of the 29 to 30 days of Ramadan.  It celebrates the creation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam.

On the first day, we wake up at 4 am and we eat a small meal together as a family until the Fagar Prayer and after the Fagar, we start to fast.

We don’t eat or drink anything until the Maghrib prayer happens at 6 or 7 pm. At this time, the family eats a big meal together.

Fasting begins when you turn 11 or 12 years old. The first week of fasting is the hardest. The best part is eating together every night.

Some of the things we eat are samosas, stuffed fried dumplings, rice, salad, chicken and meat. The first thing we eat are dates because that is what the Prophet Mohamed ate.

Ramadan ends with Eid, a special day to celebrate the new year with family and friends. We receive new clothes and eat another big meal together. Eid is our favorite holiday. We miss celebrating with family in Yemen.