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Hundreds of Muslims gathered early today at the Alley of Nations of the Olympic Stadium in Athens, to celebrate their biggest religious holiday – Ramadan. Today, Muslims get together around the table to given each other pardon for their sins, after a long month of fasting. According to tradition, youths are commanded to kiss the hands of the elders and pay their tributes. The celebration lasts for three days.

 Ramadan is honored around the world, and like all the rest of the Muslim holidays has no set date, but is dependent on the position of the moon. The Muslim calendar, unlike the Christian, is lunar. The Muslim community in Greece has taken advice from the Athens observatory concerning the beginning of their prayers, as the starting time is different in different parts of the world.

 Believers express their gratitude to Allah for the prosperity he provides and the strength to complete the monthly fasts, which are concluded for today’s celebration. Following the major Morning Prayer, Muslims visit the graveyards, to cast a prayer for the souls of the dead. Islam believers in Athens however are unfortunate, as there is not Muslim graveyard or a mosque in the city.