In the center of Depot Square, a metallic crescent moon cradles a dangling star, its silver embellishments gleaming. The Lexington Muslim Community purchased the statue ahead of last year’s Ramadan celebration, hoping it would spark curiosity about the Islamic faith long after the month ends.
“We intentionally chose metal for the piece because it reflects both literally and figuratively, representing spiritual reflection and deeper self-awareness,” said Huda Ghabieh, a member of the Lexington Muslim Community who helped organize the statue’s installation. “The crescent helps kindle conversations and understanding with neighbors. My hope is that it is always remembered that way, to strengthen our relationships and friendships, no matter the time.”
Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, and each month begins with the sighting of a new crescent moon. The crescent symbol carries special meaning for Muslims worldwide as well as those in the Lexington community.
Lexington resident Rabiha Sami, owner of Rabiha’s, a custom bakery, uses the crescent symbol as inspiration when creating Ramadan-themed baked goods.
“It’s the moon that determines the start and the end of Ramadan, so you’ll see me making a lot of different crescents and celestial treats,” she said, adding that she likes to use cardamom and rose flavor profiles to bring more of her culture into her creations.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, refraining from food and drink while focusing on generosity and gratitude. The month concludes with Eid al-Fitr, this year falling on March 19, a celebration marking the end of the fast.
A native of Pakistan, Sami grew up with everyone around her observing Ramadan and celebrating the holiday “to the max,” she said. Prior to moving to Lexington in 2019, she also spent 20 years in New York, which she said was a “very different” experience because of the city’s large Muslim population. Census-based estimates reported by The Boston Globe suggest that approximately 1,400 Lexington residents, about 4% of the town’s population, are Muslim.
In a smaller community like Lexington, Sami said it can be harder to find Ramadan-related foods or decorations.
“Here, when we go to the store to pick something up, there are usually no special treats that celebrate Ramadan,” Sami said. “I really try my best to make it accessible to a lot of locals who would like to get Ramadan-themed stuff for their family and their friends.”
Still, Sami said the Muslim community in Lexington “really comes together” during Ramadan.
Last year, the town held its first public Ramadan celebration in the town center, organized by the Lexington Muslim Community. This year, the group was unable to host a ceremony due to the heavy snowfall, Ghabieh said. However, next year they plan to have an indoor “Light Up the Crescent” event on the first night of Ramadan.
“Everyone in town will be welcomed,” Ghabieh said. “We hope this becomes a tradition that continues to bring the whole town together.”
In the meantime, community members have been having smaller get-togethers.
“A lot of people have potlucks — iftars — when we open our fast. I’ve also seen people be very generous, donating to families in need,” Sami said. “During Ramadan, we’re taught not just to be grateful for what we have, but also to share what we have.”
Sami also prepares platters of both sweet and savory foods to share with neighbors, many of whom are not Muslim.
“It’s just a way to share our culture and our celebrations,” she said.
As a mother of two teenage boys, Sami emphasized the importance of bringing her children into the celebration.
“I’ve done anything and everything to excite my kids from a young age — I get creative,” she said. “Similar to how a lot of people do advent calendars for Christmas, I do advent calendars around Ramadan. I just try to keep it really light and happy and talk about the meaning and the purpose behind it.”
Ghabieh said Ramadan’s meaning is often misunderstood and overshadowed by the idea that the month is simply about fasting.
“The deeper purpose is spiritual growth,” she said. “It is a joyful and meaningful time, centered on compassion, generosity and caring for others.”
For Sohail Masood, co-founder of Omar’s World of Comics, those values extend into his family’s business.
“That’s really what Ramadan means, sacrificing yourself and understanding that there are people who may not have enough food to eat,” Masood said. “Fasting helps you feel empathy for other people.”
The popular comic book shop, located in downtown Lexington, is named after his son, Omar, a young man with Down syndrome who graduated from the LABBB Special Education Collaborative at Lexington High School. Today, the business partners with LABBB as a vocational training center for students with special needs. The shop and community space is accompanied by an adjacent restaurant, Omar’s Bistro.
“We are known in the Muslim community because our bistro meat is halal. We are the only folks in Lexington who have halal burgers,” Masood said.
Although the shop has not yet hosted Ramadan events, Masood said the family hopes to expand their celebrations in the future, including potentially hosting an Eid party next year. This year, he plans to celebrate Eid with his family and friends at a seafood buffet.
Community support during Ramadan extends beyond individual families. The Muslim American Community Center of Lexington, a local nonprofit organization, serves more than 200 families in the greater Boston area and provides programs and resources for Muslim residents throughout the year.
According to Ghabieh, the Lexington Muslim Community also works to build connections with the town. Each year during Eid, members organize breakfasts for staff at Lexington Public Schools as well as the town’s fire and police departments.
“These are small gestures, but they’re meaningful ways to show appreciation and build relationships,” she said.
Over time, Ghabieh said she has seen growing awareness and support for Ramadan across Lexington. Local organizations have offered public spaces for prayer gatherings and iftar meals, and community institutions such as the library and community center have hosted displays and educational materials about the holiday.
Last year, Lexington’s school committee voted to make Eid-al-Fitr an official holiday for Lexington schools.
“There has been greater openness and curiosity from the broader community,” Ghabieh said. “That helps Ramadan feel more visible and understood.”
This story was written by a journalism student in BU’s Newsroom program, a partnership between the university, The Lexington Observer and other news organizations in the Boston area.