What It Means - Day 45

So, the Ramadan schedule has dropped, at least in our little corner of the world at the Islamic Society of Vermont. Since we're so far north and Ramadan is starting in May the prayer times are more spread out and thus the fasting day is longer than it would be further south. For example, say for instance Ramadan began today (compared to Monday 6 May) up here in Vermont fasting would run from 4:11 a.m. (with the completion of the Fajr prayer) through 7:56 p.m. (with the Maghrib prayer). However, if you lived in Sydney, Australia, again, based on today, fasting would run from 5:20 a.m. to 5:16 p.m.  Since Ramadan moves forward nine days every year eventually these times will essentially swap.  Since Ramadan is moving forward it means that although the fasting day gets a little longer every day (see below), the overall amount of fasting time is less this year than the year before.  If you're a Muslim living in Zanzibar and you live on the equator your prayer times don't move much, and thus the amount of time that you fast wouldn't ever change much.

Day 1 - Monday 6 May
Fajr 4:02 a.m.
Maghrib 8:02 p.m.

Day 2 - Tuesday 7 May
Fajr 4:00 a.m.
Maghrib 8:03 p.m.

Day 3 - Wednesday 8 May
Fajr 3:58 a.m.
Maghrib 8:05 p.m.

Day 4 - Thursday 9 May
Fajr 3:56 a.m.
Maghrib 8:06 p.m.

Day 5 - Friday 10 May
Fajr 3:54 a.m.
Maghrib 8:07 p.m.

Day 6 - Saturday 11 May
Fajr 3:53 a.m.
Maghrib 8:08 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 7 - Sunday 12 May
Fajr 3:51 a.m.
Maghrib 8:09 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 8 - Monday 13 May
Fajr 3:49 a.m.
Maghrib 8:11 p.m.

Day 9 - Tuesday 14 May
Fajr 3:47 a.m.
Maghrib 8:12 p.m.

Day 10 - Wednesday 15 May
Fajr 3:46 a.m.
Maghrib 8:13 p.m.

Day 11 - Thursday 16 May
Fajr 3:44 a.m.
Maghrib 8:14 p.m.

Day 12 - Friday 17 May
Fajr 3:42 a.m.
Maghrib 8:15 p.m.

Day 13 - Saturday 18 May
Fajr 3:41 a.m.
Maghrib 8:16 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 14 - Sunday 19 May
Fajr 3:39 a.m.
Maghrib 8:17 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 15 - Monday 20 May
Fajr 3:38 a.m.
Maghrib 8:18 p.m.

Day 16 - Tuesday 21 May
Fajr 3:36 a.m.
Maghrib 8:19 p.m.

Day 17 - Wednesday 22 May
Fajr 3:35 a.m.
Maghrib 8:21 p.m.

Day 18 - Thursday 23 May
Fajr 3:33 a.m.
Maghrib 8:22 p.m.

Day 19 - Friday 24 May
Fajr 3:32 a.m.
Maghrib 8:23 p.m.

Day 20 - Saturday 25 May
Fajr 3:31 a.m.
Maghrib 8:24 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 21 - Sunday 26 May
Fajr 3:29 a.m.
Maghrib 8:25 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 22 - Monday 27 May
Fajr 3:28 a.m.
Maghrib 8:26 p.m.

Day 23 - Tuesday 28 May
Fajr 3:27 a.m.
Maghrib 8:26 p.m.

Day 24 - Wednesday 29 May
Fajr 3:26 a.m.
Maghrib 8:27 p.m.

Day 25 - Thursday 30 May
Fajr 3:24 a.m.
Maghrib 8:28 p.m.

Day 26 - Friday 31 May
Fajr 3:23 a.m.
Maghrib 8:29 p.m.

Day 27 - Saturday 1 June
Fajr 3:22 a.m.
Maghrib 8:30 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 28 - Sunday 2 June
Fajr 3:21 a.m.
Maghrib 8:31 p.m.
(Iftar at ISVT*)

Day 29 - Monday 3 June
Fajr 3:20 a.m.
Maghrib 8:32 p.m.

*Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast, and right now there are communal meals (usually hosted by the different groups within the masjid) that are scheduled for every Saturday and Sunday evening during Ramadan (although this will change along the way, it always does). It's always a big meal (unless you're the one Muslim in the house) every night, and many members host Iftar meals at their houses throughout the month.