Ramadan (rom-a-don) is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. During this month, Muslims do not eat or drink during the daylight. This is called fasting.

     Each day during Ramadan, Muslim families get up early before sunrise to eat a morning meal together and to perform the Fajr (fah-jar) prayer. Once the sun has set, families gather together once again and eat. This is known as Iftar (if-tar).

     Ramadan is an important social and religious time for over a billion (1,000,000,000) Muslims throughout the world. It is considered to be the holiest period of the Islamic Year.

     Ramadan ends with a celebration called 'Eid-Ul-Fitr (eed-al-fitter), or the Festival of Fast-Breaking. 'Eid-Ul-Fitr' lasts for three days. During the celebration, children are given gifts or money by their parents and relatives.