What Is Ramadan, And How Do People Observe It?

Medically reviewed by April Justice, LICSW
Updated April 18th, 2025 by BetterHelp Editorial Team

In 2025, Ramadan will take place from February 28th through March 29th. In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month of the year and serves as a time of fasting and prayer. While there tend to be many similarities in how it’s observed, there can be slight differences between cultures. Below, explore Ramadan and the various ways Muslims observe this holy month in multiple countries worldwide.

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What Is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a special month in which many Muslim people engage in communal prayer and fasting. Because the Islamic calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar, Ramadan typically falls on a different month each year. According to Islamic tradition, it is believed that during Ramadan, God revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad.

Different cultures around the world observe Ramadan differently. While some people see Ramadan as a time of fasting, others see it as a time of general restraint from dawn until dusk. During this time, some may refrain from food and drink and strive to have more pure thoughts and deeds. 

During Ramadan, people often begin the day with a pre-dawn meal called suhoor. After fasting during the day, people typically offer an evening prayer, which is usually followed by a meal called ifṭār. Many people start this meal with dates along with sweetened milk or water. Below are some Ramadan traditions that people may follow in various countries around the world.

Morocco

In Morocco, the day often begins with the sound of drummers called Nafars. Their role is to wake up the community for the suhoor meal. The Nafars typically dress in a gandora and wear slippers as they walk through the neighborhood and sing prayers. 

Egypt

In Egypt, one of the common customs is the use of a fanous, which is a colorful Ramadan lantern. Made of metal and glass, these lanterns typically light up homes and entire neighborhoods. 

Iraq

During Ramadan in Iraq, one common tradition is to play a game called Mheibes. This game is often played by men after people break their fast at dusk. In a typical rendition of the game, there are two groups, each consisting of 40 to as many as 250 players. Each group has a leader who secretly gives a ring to one member of his team, and the other team must guess who has the ring. 

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Turkey

In Turkey, a normal day during Ramadan also tends to begin with drummers who roam the neighborhood to wake people up for the suhoor meal. Some tip the drummers and invite them into their homes to have the suhoor together. 

Lebanon

In Lebanon, people often follow a tradition called Midfa al Iftar. During this practice, cannons are fired to mark the end of the fasting at sunset. Although many believe the tradition began in Egypt, it continues to be an important part of Ramadan in Lebanon today. 

Saudia Arabia

In Saudia Arabia, restaurants typically offer special iftar meals and then suhoor before fasting during the day. The streets typically have colorful lights, and people often place fabrics with verses from the Quran and Ramadan greetings on their doors. 

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Therapy during Ramadan

For many people, Ramadan is a time for self-reflection and meaningful time with family. However, some people may have to spend Ramadan away from loved ones for reasons beyond their control. This loneliness or other factors can potentially lead to challenging emotions or a sense of isolation. Speaking to a therapist may be helpful for these individuals, especially if they can speak to that therapist from home. A therapist may be able to help people navigate the difficulty of being away from family and trying to honor their specific Ramadan traditions. 

Not being able to find a counselor with a cultural understanding of Ramadan can be a barrier to therapy for some people. In these cases, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be beneficial. With an online therapy platform, individuals can find a larger pool of therapists than they can in their local community, which may make it easier to find a professional who understands Ramadan and its significance. With online therapy, people who observe Ramadan can connect with a therapist from home at a time that suits their schedule during this unique time of year. 

Over the last 10 years, many studies have demonstrated online therapy to be effective for a number of mental health conditions. One study found that online therapy was effective for anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder, among other disorders. Adjustment disorder may be common among people who move to another country with major cultural differences. 

Takeaway

Ramadan is a holy month that takes place from February 28th to March 29th in 2025. The month of Ramadan serves as a time of fasting and prayer and is celebrated in numerous Muslim communities all around the world. Ramadan can also be a time of self-reflection, which may lead some people to ponder changes they’d like to make. This process may be enhanced with the help of a therapist, who may be able to help people form a personalized plan for change and improvement. If you’d like help making life changes or processing challenging emotions, you might consider talking to a licensed therapist online or in your area.

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