In 2026, three traditions based on the cycle of the Moon intersect at almost the same moment: Christian Lent, Islamic Ramadan and the Lunar New Year celebrated in several Asian countries.
In a rare coincidence, this week Christian Lent, Islamic Ramadan and Lunar New Year, celebrated in several Asian countries, began almost at the same time.
The coincidence of the dates of these celebrations this year is not the result of an inter-religious understanding or a common decision. It is simply the effect of the convergence of three different ways of measuring time, all of which are based, in some way, on observation of the Moon.
The explanation lies in the different calendars used by each tradition and how they relate to the cycles of the Moon.
Lent: depends on the date of Easter
The date of Easter is determined according to a rule established in the first councils of the Church: it is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (conventionally fixed on March 21). This calculation is made based on the Gregorian calendar and an “ecclesiastical moon”, which does not always coincide exactly with the astronomical moon.
As Easter varies between March 22nd and April 25th, Lent also varies between the beginning of February and the beginning of March.
Ramadan: a month that retreats every year
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is strictly lunar. Each year has about 354 days, 10 or 11 fewer than the solar year.
Therefore, Ramadan “goes backwards” by about 10 days per year in the Gregorian calendar. After approximately 33 years, it completes a cycle and returns to coincide with the same time of the solar year.
The beginning of the month traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon after the new moon. In some countries, the decision is made by national religious authorities; in others, astronomical calculations are used. Therefore, the start may vary by day from country to country.
In 2026, Ramadan began at sunset on February 17 or 18, depending on lunar observation.
It is this structural difference between a solar (Gregorian) calendar and a lunar (Islamic) calendar that explains the approximate coincidence between Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Ramadan about every 33 years.
Lunar New Year: new moon between January and February
The so-called Lunar New Year, celebrated in China, Korea, Vietnam and other Asian communities, follows a lunisolar calendar. The new year began on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which places it between January 21st and February 20th.
In 2026, the new moon occurred on February 17th, marking the beginning of the new year.
Coincidence is not exceptional, but it is rare
The exact coincidence on the same day between Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Ramadan are not frequent, but it is also not exceptional, it results from the cycle of around 33 years in the Islamic calendar.
Simultaneous proximity to the Lunar New Year is less common, because it depends on the combination of three different calendars: solar, lunar and lunisolar.
Three celebrations with similar roots
Despite religious and cultural differences, the three celebrations share a dimension of renewal, transition and reflection.
Quaresma
In the Christian tradition, Lent is a period of 40 days of preparation for Easter, evoking the 40 days that, according to the Gospels, Jesus spent in the desert.
It is marked by practices of fasting, penance, prayer and charity. Many believers choose to give up certain habits or foods. The period culminates in Holy Week and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
Ramadan
Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. During this month, healthy adult Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations.
The day begins with suhoor, the meal before sunrise, and ends with iftar, the fast-breaking meal, often shared in community.
In addition to fasting, it is a period of intensified prayer, reading the Quran, charity and spiritual self-control. The month ends with Eid al-Fitr, one of the main Islamic festivals.
Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new cycle in the traditional Chinese calendar and other East Asian cultures.
Celebrations include family gatherings, gifts of red envelopes filled with money, decorations with symbols of prosperity, and rituals designed to attract good luck for the new year.
Each year is associated with one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and one of the five elements, forming 60-year cycles.
