It might seem a strange thing for a practicing Muslim to say, but Kholoud Khardoum, a 53-year-old living in Iraq, is clear.

"Not all of Ramadan is necessarily about religion," the Baghdad-based writer said. "It's also about the atmosphere and the tradition of people coming together."

Iraq is a Muslim-majority country, but in areas where different religious communities live together, you'll often find non-Muslims participating in celebrations around the month-long Muslim holiday of Ramadan, she told DW. In particular, "iftar," the sunset meal where friends and family come together to break the daily fast, can be a community occasion.

"Sometimes Christian people will make dessert and send it to their Muslim neighbors," Khardoum said. "Sometimes Muslims send food. Or they all fast together. It's really nice to share these things," she said.

There are similar stories elsewhere in the Middle East. "One of my oldest and closest friends is a Muslim, so we share some customs," Egyptian woman Um Amir, a 50-year-old living in Assiut, a city south of Cairo, said. "For example, I'll fast during the day in Ramadan, then break my fast with her family."

"I'm Christian, but since I was young, I've had so many Muslim friends, and I've never put a big emphasis on different religions," said Lebanese woman Rita, 34, who is also fasting in Beirut.

Given that all three women live in Muslim-majority countries, their experiences won't come as a........

© Deutsche Welle