Students cherish family bonding, cultural traditions during Ramadan

For junior Noor Parak, Ramadan is not only a time to pray, but also to enjoy the company of loved ones. Parak’s earliest memories of celebrating Ramadan stem from her visits to her grandparents’ house. “When Ramadan was in the summer, we used to always go to Canada, where my grandparents live,” she said. “We would celebrate with our whole family and fast together. At the end of Ramadan,...

Freshman Hamza Siddeek has been observing Ramadan every year with his family since he was a kid. Siddeek began fasting when he was in elementary school, and he always helps his family prepare and decorate for Ramadan. Every year, Siddeek and his family hang lanterns in their home. “We don’t have any unique traditions,” he said. “We’re pretty standard. But we put up lanterns, which not every...