Ramadan is the holiest Islamic month. The start of Ramadan changes every year, because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycles. This year Ramadan started on April 24
th.
Muslims congratulate each other at the start of Ramadan (“
Ramadan Mubarak!”). Muslims fast voluntarily in Ramadan from dawn to dusk (no food or drink). Consider Ramadan a “spiritual bootcamp”. The purpose of fasting is not to starve yourself, but to appreciate God’s blessings and to learn to be emphatic to those who do not have enough to eat or drink. Ramadan is a way to learn self-control and patience (which is the most difficult aspect for me!). The sick, the elderly, children, travelers, pregnant or nursing women are exempt from fasting during Ramadan.
Ramadan is a month of charity. Events are held to collect donations to build water wells, education, medication, and relief funds for refugees and others in need. Meals are provided by volunteers to mosques to ensure no one entering the mosque leaves hungry.
Muslims who are fasting get up in the morning before sunrise, have breakfast (called
Suhoor) and pray. The fast is then broken at sundown (
Iftaar). Family and friends congregate, share a meal, and pray together. Ramadan can become quite busy socializing!
Eid marks the end of Ramadan and is a day of great celebration (
Eid Mubarak!). This year, Eid will be on May 23
rd. Special prayers are held in mosques and gifts are presented (mostly to children). Eid is quite an event with festive clothes and a feast. However, a few days before Eid each Muslim of means provides a charitable donation to ensure that those who are not as fortunate can enjoy a good meal.
The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected Ramadan and its rituals. Family gatherings are more intimate, mosques are closed, and no public events are being held (although there is still virtual fund raising). Despite COVID-19, the true lessons derived from fasting endure. What better time than now to appreciate God’s blessings, learn to live with patience and sincerely feel for those that are impacted by unemployment and hunger. Through Ramadan we can become better individuals, members of our communities and citizens.
Lastly your Muslim colleague will not at all be offended or bothered if you eat or drink in front of them. Ask them questions if you are curious.
May you and yours all have a blessed month of Ramadan!
Sabina Mir, MD
UNC Pediatric Gastroenterology
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REMINDER!
Diversity Refresher Courses
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The following learning modules can be accessed in LMS. These are a great way to refocus during the time of COVID, and can be done while onsite or teleworking.
Simply enter a title in the search box to locate the course in LMS:
- Skillsoft Your Role in Workplace Diversity
- Skillsoft Managing Diversity
- Skillsoft Bridging the Diversity Gap
- Skillsoft Maintaining a Cohesive Multigenerational Workforce
- Skillsoft Understanding Unconscious Bias
- Skillsoft Overcoming Your Own Unconscious Biases
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How can I increase my awareness of important dates
across various faiths & cultures?
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Access the UNC Pediatrics Diversity Calendar!
View it Online...
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Easily link to your Outlook calendar
.
Follow the instructions found here.
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Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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May is
Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
in the United States, which pays tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Many excellent resources available at
https://asianpacificheritage.gov/
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May is also
Older Americans Month, established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older Americans and to support them as they enter their next stage of life.
The Administration for Community Living advocates across the federal government for older adults, people with disabilities, and families and caregivers. The ACL site hosts a list of resources pertaining to health and wellness, protecting rights and preventing abuse, supporting consumer control, strengthening the networks of community-based organizations, funding research, and more.
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Jewish American Heritage Month
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In addition, May is
Jewish American Heritage
month, which recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture. Visit
https://www.jewishheritagemonth.gov/
for information published by The Library of Congress as well as many other national entities.
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May is recognized as Mental Health Month in the USA. Mental Health America (MHA) and its affiliates across the country promote the observance with its 2020 theme
Tools 2 Thrive. The MHA website offers practical tools everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency.
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Beltane, an ancient Celtic festival marks the beginning of the summer season and celebrates life and fertility one of the rituals is dancing around a May Pole and doing the Morris Dance, the English name for May Day dances.
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May 7: National Day of Prayer
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The U.S. Congress has declared that "[t]he President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals."
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May 11-12 (sundown to sundown): Lag BaOmer
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A Jewish festivity celebrated with outings on which children traditionally play with
bows and arrows
, dance around bonfires, hold parades and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place in northern Israel of the great sage and mystic
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.
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May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
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Observed annually this day aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide.
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The holiest night of the year for Muslims, is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. It is known as the Night of Power and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
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May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development
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May 21: Ascension of Jesus
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This marks the anniversary of the day Christians believe that Jesus rose from Earth to heaven.
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This holiday, which literally means "Friday of farewell," is observed on the last Friday in the month of Ramadan before Eid al-Fitr. Regarded by some Muslims as the second holiest day of the month of Ramadan, this is a time when Muslims attend congregation in lieu of the midday prayer and perform
ibadah, acts of submission and devotion to Allah.
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May 22-23: Declaration of the
Báb
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This holiday commemorates the Bab's prediction in Shiraz, Persia, in 1844 of the imminent appearance of the new messenger of God. This is one of the nine holy days when Baha'is refrain from work and lasts from sundown to sundown.
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The first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutuba (sermon), attend celebrations and give gifts of sweets, such as pastries, halvah, and sugared almonds. Eid Mubarak and "Happy Eid" are common greetings.
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Memorial Day in the United States, originally a day of remembrance for those who died for the Union in the Civil War, this national holiday now honors those who gave their lives in all wars. Many American families observe Memorial Day as a time for paying respects to deceased family members.
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May 27-28: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
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Commemorates the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Baha'i faith in 1892. This is one of the nine holy days when Baha'is refrain from work. (Image: Shrine of Báb, Port of Haifa, Israel).
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A Jewish holiday taking place seven weeks after Passover. Shavout has double significance: the all-important wheat harvest in Israel and the commemoration of the day Moses received the Torah and the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Many Jews restrict their diet during this period to dairy foods. Popular dishes include cheese blintzes, cheesecake, and cheese
knishes.
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This spring festival takes its name from the Greek word for fifty because Pentecost originally occurred on the fiftieth day after the first day of Passover, corresponding to the Jewish festival of Shavuot. Christians now celebrate Pentecost on the seventh Sunday after Easter to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. For this reason, Pentecost signifies the birth of the Christian Church.
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Stuart Gold, Committee Chair
Christian Lawrence
Robin Howard
Jennifer McElroy
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Nina Jain
Jessie Feudale
Hadley Kifner
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Kenya McNeal-Trice
Benny Joyner
Jennifer Gutierrez-Wu
Zachary Pettigrew
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