![\"ramadan_lights.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/189\/import\/ramadan_lights.jpg\")
For anyone who has had the opportunity to travel through the Muslim world during Ramadan, you may be familiar with how festive a holiday it is, mirroring in some ways the pervasive sounds and colors of the American holiday season. Ramadan in America, however, is quite different then that. We are still in the process of creating our own uniquely American Ramadan traditions, which reflect our relative isolation, diverse countries of origin, and our predominantly American culture.\nAs I’ve learned in the past few years, this becomes even more important when you have children. Growing up in America, we need visual reminders of Ramadan that correlate with the Christmas ones that are so ubiquitous each winter. Some of our traditions are familiar to my parent’s generation, such as the festive evening meals enjoyed while visiting the houses of friends and family. But the generation of Muslims that were born or raised here are beginning to cobble together our own traditions, piece by piece.<\/p>\n