Three of the most widely observed seasons on the calendar have arrived within three days of each other this week, and in a city as diverse as Markham, many households, schools and workplaces are marking more than one of them.
Lunar New Year opened the Year of the Horse on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Christians began Lent with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18. And for many Muslims in Markham, the first day of fasting for Ramadan is today, Thursday, Feb. 19.
Ramadan begins
The Islamic Centre of Markham told its community on Feb. 17 that the Hilal Council of Canada had received no confirmed sightings of the new moon, which set the first day of Ramadan for Thursday. The centre, home to Masjid Darul Iman, said the first night of taraweeh, the extra evening prayers held through the month, would be Wednesday, Feb. 18, with Isha prayer at 7:30 p.m. and taraweeh starting shortly after.
Through Ramadan, observant Muslims fast each day from dawn until sunset, then break the fast with a meal called iftar, often shared with family, friends and fellow worshippers. The month ends with the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, it moves earlier each year, and this year it falls in the short days of late winter.
Lent and Lunar New Year
Lent is the 40-day season of prayer and reflection before Easter, which falls on April 5 this year. It follows Shrove Tuesday, the day many churches mark with pancakes; Grace Church Markham had a Mardi Gras pancake supper on its calendar for Tuesday evening, according to a local events listing.
Lunar New Year, meanwhile, is traditionally celebrated over 15 days, so the festivities are far from over. Several of the city's larger public celebrations are set for this weekend, including the LunarFest GTA festival at the Varley Art Gallery in Unionville and events at CF Markville and Pacific Mall.
A shared theme
While the three observances come from different cultures and faiths, each is a time of renewal and reflection. Ash Wednesday and the start of Ramadan landed a day apart, so Lent and the Ramadan fast will run side by side into March.
In practical terms, the overlap means some Markham residents are fasting through the workday while neighbours sit down to family feasts for the new year.
