My name is Ana Todorova and I will be a senior at OCU. I am from Bulgaria and I am among the four Bulgarians on campus. I think now this is one of the biggest cultural events going on not only on OCU campus but also worldwide is Ramadan.
I believe that this is a wonderful holiday, which lasts one month, and is essentially praying and focusing on God as well as fasting in all ways possible: refraining from food, water, lustful thoughts, smoking and alcohol between sunrise and sunset. Then they break the fast.
I think that the closest holiday we have in Christianity is the month of fasting right before Easter. However, we do not go all day without food and water. For them it means they can experience for a day what millions of people worldwide experience every day. This makes Muslim people more charitable, appeases them and is so educative. On the last day of Ramadan there is another holiday called Eed, which is a big break-the-fast event, with lots of food and both women and men can sit together and eat.
To bring this event closer to the OCU community, I want to tell everyone not to be too harsh on Saudi People here, for example. During the day they look tired and not very focused. This is because of Ramadan, so professors, classmates, friends – understand why!
Ramadan Kareem to all of you, Muslim people at OCU.
Ana Todorova
