Jinan Chehade remembers as a baby pondering of Ramadan as “the opposite” vacation as a result of it wasn’t celebrated as broadly as some American holidays.
That feeling for Chehade, 26, has begun to vary lately, and Friday — the primary night time of Ramadan — was a momentous turning level for the Islamic holy month’s celebration in her hometown of suburban Bridgeview.
Crescent moons, stars and lanterns illuminate the sunshine poles alongside Harlem Avenue in a vibrant space of Bridgeview often called Little Palestine. It’s the primary time Ramadan lights have been displayed publicly within the southwest suburb — residence to a big Muslim inhabitants and the most important Palestinian inhabitants within the U.S.
“Having the lights up and having the children right here to have fun in the course of Bridgeview type of exhibits them that they’ve a spot right here, too, and that that is their group, that is their metropolis, and that Ramadan is welcomed by all,” Chehade stated. “It’s not like ‘the opposite’ for them, however Ramadan is sort of like part of their life now on this group.”
A number of hundred folks packed the Al Manarah Sq. car parking zone at 92nd Avenue and Harlem Avenue Friday night time as youngsters loved creating work, having their faces painted and waving sparklers.
Ramadan celebrates the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. The month is a interval of prayer, studying of the Quran, reflection and gatherings with family and friends. Observers of the holy month quick from dawn to sundown. The 2 meals of the day are suhoor, a predawn meal, and iftar, the meal to interrupt the quick after sunset.
Ramadan ends March 29 with Eid al-Fitr, a three-day vacation celebrating the tip of the quick.
A crescent moon coincides with the start and finish of Ramadan, making it a well-liked form to light up throughout festivities.
The custom of utilizing lanterns, often called fanoos, to embellish houses and streets through the holy month dates again centuries, however public Ramadan lighting shows have gained recognition within the U.S. lately.
The lights in Bridgeview will stay up till Eid al-Adha — or the “Competition of Sacrifice,” one of many holiest of Muslim holidays — which is June 6-7 this 12 months.
Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek speaks to lots of of Chicago space Muslims together with a big contingent of Palestinian American’s have fun Bridgeview, Illinois’ first ever public lights ornament alongside Harlem Avenue for Ramadan, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Bridgeview, Sick.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Solar-Instances
Organizers of Friday’s ceremony thanked Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek for his willingness to take heed to the Muslim group’s want to boost the group’s Ramadan celebration.
“It takes all people to make issues occur. All of us must work collectively to make one thing occur,” Landek instructed the group Friday night time. “We’re a group, and we’re like a tapestry: We’ve got Muslim People, we’ve Christians, we’ve all people — Polish, German, Jordanian — all of it works collectively to make a ravishing group.”
Sadia Nawab, a lead organizer of the occasion, stated the Ramadan lighting alongside the roughly mile stretch of Harlem Avenue in Little Palestine brings “a way of residence.”
“It brings a lot pleasure,” Nawab stated. “We really feel seen, we really feel celebrated, we really feel like we will be ourselves.”
Audio system at Friday’s celebration hinted a number of instances at different methods the Muslim and Palestinian communities will work with Bridgeview officers to make their cultures extra embedded with the village. That features the official recognition of Little Palestine as a group space.
“We’re not simply companies,” Nawab stated. “We’re not simply right here to change cash. Am I proper? We’re a folks of tradition, of values, and we come from a wealthy custom, and we need to showcase that extra by way of our artwork, by way of our tradition, by way of our establishment.”
