Christians and Muslims have begun fasting together for the first time in decades.
For the first time in more than three decades, Christians and Muslims are beginning their fasting periods at the same time. Lent and Ramadan are starting almost simultaneously, creating a rare moment of shared reflection and restraint.
The last time both fasting seasons began on roughly the same day was in 1992. Such overlaps are unusual because the Islamic lunar calendar is shorter than the Western Gregorian calendar, causing Ramadan to move earlier each year. Lent, by contrast, always begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter, excluding Sundays.
Confusion arose in the Netherlands over the exact start of Ramadan. Saudi Arabia announced that Ramadan would begin on Wednesday, based on the sighting of the crescent moon, known as Ru'yah (moon sighting). However, the Dutch Imams Association (Vereniging van Imams in Nederland – Association of Imams in the Netherlands) and the Islamic Foundation of the Netherlands stated that Ramadan would begin on Thursday, using the astronomical calculation method known as Hisaab (calculated moon visibility).
Religious scholar كوك باكر from Utrecht University says fasting plays an important role across faiths by encouraging self-control and reflection. He explains that Catholic traditions include Carnival, a festive farewell before Lent, while in Islam the celebration comes at the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr. He adds that Ramadan is more socially shared, with families gathering daily after sunset, while Lent is often observed more individually by Christians.
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sexual activity from sunrise to sunset for nearly a month. Once night falls, families eat a shared evening meal. This year, Ramadan takes place in winter, which makes fasting easier because there are fewer daylight hours. Lent, meanwhile, lasts longer but usually involves choosing personal sacrifices such as eating less meat or reducing time on social media.