Ramadan in Canada 2025: When and How to Celebrate

Ramadan dates and calendar 2025

For 2025, Ramadan commenced on 1 March 2025. Eid ul-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, will fall on 30 March 2025.

Moon sighting for Ramadan in Canada

The arrival of Ramadan is always a time of spiritual anticipation and reflection. Traditionally, the beginning of the holy month is determined through the sighting of the crescent moon (Hilal) by religious scholars and astronomical experts, following Islamic traditions.

For 2025, the sighting of the crescent moon was observed on 28 February. In Canada, local moon sightings and global lunar calendars are used to determine the dates.

Organizations like the Hilal Council of Canada and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) help declare these dates. Because of differences in moon sightings based on locations, some communities begin Ramadan a day later or earlier than others.

Ramadan practices and celebrations

Ramadan in Canada is a harmonious fusion of Islamic traditions and the country’s multicultural essence. The experience differs by province and city, but Muslim communities across Canada come together for fasting, prayer, and community service.

As mosques and Islamic centers declare the start of Ramadan based on moon observations, the anticipation grows before the holy month. In addition to preparing ahead of time by decorating their houses with lanterns, crescent moons, and festive lights, many Muslim families also stock up on necessities like halal meats, dates, and ingredients for traditional iftar dinners. 

With a range of dishes like Middle Eastern kebabs, North African soups, and South Asian biryanis, Iftar is a lively event. Free iftar events are arranged by mosques, Islamic centers, and even non-Muslim organizations, which show compassion by feeding the underprivileged and homeless.

Taraweeh prayers after Isha bring together worshippers in huge congregations, filling mosques in cities such as Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal. For those who are unable to attend, some mosques offer live streaming of prayers and lectures on Islam.

Charitable activities increase during Ramadan, as many Muslims fulfill their Zakat obligation by helping charities in their locality and around the world. Islamic institutions also organize food drives to feed underprivileged people.

Ramadan in Canada is a rich cultural experience combining traditions from South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. Rather than just being a religious activity, it has become a season of interfaith dialogue, as Muslims invite non-Muslim friends and neighbors to join in the celebration. It’s a season of faith, generosity, and unity– deeply spiritual yet beautifully inclusive.

Prayer timings

Since Canada is a large country with many time zones, the hours of prayer throughout Ramadan vary by city and location. Muslims across Canada follow the five daily prayers, with Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) ending at Fajr and Iftar (breaking the fast) aligning with Maghrib (sunset prayer).