Connecting with the Arabic Speaking community
September 2004
According to the 2001 Census, there are more than 200,000 Arabic speakers in Australia – 70% live in Sydney. Arabic-speaking migrants number approximately two-thirds Christian and one-third Muslim, with the Muslim Arabic speakers generally being more recently arrived in Australia. The Muslim community is also the faster-growing segment of the community.
The central religious festival for the Muslim community is Ramadan. The lead up to the festival is not dissimilar to Christian Lent, a time of fasting and self-purification. Muslims fast between dawn and dusk for a full month.
The holiday that ends the fast is called Eid ul Fitr – the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. A second Eid is celebrated two months later. Devout older Muslims make the pilgrimage (the Hajj) to Mecca at this time. It is customary to give money to the poor at Eid. Children may also receive gifts, sweets or money.
In 2004 Ramadan starts October 15 and ends mid November. As the Islamic calendar is only 354 days long, Ramadan moves forward 11 days every year, in relation to the Gregorian (Western) calendar. In 2005, Ramadan will start on October 4 and be held progressively earlier in the year for the next few years.