In a coincidental course of events, all three major Abrahamic faiths experience holy months or days as spring arrives. For the Christian community, it is the observation of Lent and easter, for the Jewish community it would be Nissan, and for the Muslim community, it is Ramadan and Eid al Fitr. This is a very unique and special occurrence as all faiths reflect on some core subjects and values, such as the acknowledgment of God, his glory, and being humble.
Lent began on February 14th and ended March 28th. Easter was on the 29th. Lent, is 40 days of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving based on the 40 days Jesus spent within the desert enduring temptation from Satan. The first custom of Lent can go back to 325 AD with the Canons of Nicea. It is thought to have been started by early Christians in spiritual preparation for easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It typically occurs during the spring equinox. Another thing, would be Nissan as mentioned previously.
Nissan is a month within the Jewish calendar, which means “first fruits” based upon the Sumerian word nisag. It is the first month of the Jewish calendar as well, God showed Moses the crescent moon during it, solidifying the month and its place as “the head of the month”.
Now this year, Ramadan falls from March 11th to April 9th, Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and it begins on the sighting of the crescent moon. It is a time of fasting and prayer and dedication to the Quran and so forth, it is similar to Lent in the parallels of fasting, however, Islamic fasting is total abstinence from food and the bad, whilst, within Lent, one gives up something most precious. There are various Christian traditions of fasting such as abstaining from meat, eggs, alcoholic beverages, and so forth. After Ramadan is Eid which begins at sunset, as the Islamic calendar is lunar which is when the sacrifice of a lamb is done by families, a meal, and prayer.
These months of March and April are not only spring but also symbols of “fruits” or a warm beginning, need it to be with family, alone, and for the sake of God and community.
