Lent, Ramadan, and Lunar New Year

This year, the beginning of Lent coincides with the beginning of Ramadan and the Lunar New Year. While some of us enjoyed our Mardi Gras pancakes this past Tuesday, many neighbors of Asian heritage were celebrating the arrival of the year of the Fire Horse, and our Muslim neighbors were beginning their own season of fasting.

This particular convergence of religious and cultural holidays has not occurred since 1863, and after this year, it will be another 163 years until the calendars align in this way again. It is somewhat astonishing to realize that this year, 2026, will be the only time this happens in any of our lifetimes. Thinking about this rare coincidence has me reflecting with gratitude on the beautiful and diverse world we inhabit. While I personally do not celebrate Ramadan or the Lunar New Year, I have been blessed to experience snippets of these occasions over the years.

I remember being invited to an iftar dinner for an interfaith group of clergy during my days in Virginia. A group of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian leaders gathered after sundown for a delicious meal at the Old Jerusalem restaurant in downtown Richmond. Over a feast of falafel, hummus, and baba ghanoush, we laughed, told stories, and shared delightful fellowship. Yes, we all held very different beliefs, and we practiced our faiths in very different ways, but our differences did not seem to matter all that much as we broke bread together that night. I remember listening to my friend Imad, a gregarious lay leader from the Islamic Center, share about the joy of fasting as a way to grow closer to God and to community. That resonated with many of us, especially those of us who observe Lent.

I remember one February night during our first year in Davidson. Matt and I had put toddler Chris to bed hours earlier, and just as we were about to turn in for the night ourselves, we heard the unmistakable sound of fireworks. They sounded quite close, so we went to the window to look for the source of the noise. There, in the direction of Davidson College, we could see them. The leaves were still off the trees, so our view was completely unrestricted. We ran to wake up Chris, who clapped sleepily as the fireworks show continued. It was awe and magic for all three of us – an unexpected bit of joy in an otherwise ordinary winter night. Only later did we learn the reason for the fireworks – they were sponsored by the College and several student affinity groups as a way to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Their primary intention was not to surprise and delight a local family of Episcopalians, but they certainly did, and I’ll always be grateful for that special memory.

Our society is richer because of the colorful tapestry of faiths and cultures that surround us. This Lent, as we undertake our annual “spring cleaning of the soul” in preparation for Holy Week and Easter, may we also remember our neighbors who are fasting and feasting in their own traditions. May we be inspired to celebrate the beauty of diversity in our world, and to treat all our neighbors with lovingkindness and respectful curiosity. You know, like Jesus would do.

Yours in Christ,

Carmen